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Dutch street artist reveals the consequences of war in Aleppo

On 19 July, the day that fighting began in Aleppo in 2012, a totally destroyed miniature city appeared at the Museum Square in Amsterdam. The interactive pop-up installation, called Living Aleppo, was created by Saskia Stolz, founder of Power of Art House.

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Miniature model of a war-damaged street in Aleppo with tiny figurines of people, destroyed buildings and debris, part of the Living Aleppo installation by Saskia Stolz

In a unique way, it presents daily life in Aleppo before and during the war through stories told from dozens of people living in the city during the bombings and surviving the violence. From different perspectives, they show people what life was like in this city.

"Aleppo is much more than a devastated city," Saskia explains. "Lives were not only been created, but also destroyed here. Families were founded here, but also torn apart. Studies, careers and ambitions started here... or ended here. We have not made anything more beautiful, but also not more dramatic."

The installation immediately raises the question: How do you rebuild a devastated city, not only the buildings but also the trust? Discover more about the artwork at livingaleppo.co. Or visit www.power-of-art.nl.

Saskia Stolz stands behind her white architectural model installation of destroyed Aleppo buildings, with photographs and reference materials pinned on the walls behind her.
Aerial view of Living Aleppo installation showing miniature destroyed buildings, rubble and blue tarpaulins arranged in a city square between real apartment blocks
A miniature destroyed city scene with rubble, collapsed concrete structures and a red car, depicting war damage in the Living Aleppo installation
Miniature destroyed city street with rubble, damaged concrete buildings and figures, recreating scenes from war-torn Aleppo
Detail of Living Aleppo installation showing miniature concrete buildings with metal studs and architectural details depicting war-damaged structures
Artist Saskia Stolz peers through a miniature architectural model of destroyed buildings in the Living Aleppo installation, with photographs of war damage visible on the wall behind her
Miniature red bus crushed beneath rubble in the Living Aleppo installation, representing destruction from war
Miniature model of a war-damaged street in Aleppo, featuring ruined buildings, rubble and a toy vehicle on a detailed street-level diorama
Miniature figures stand amid rubble and a overturned red car in Saskia Stolz's Living Aleppo installation, depicting the devastation of war
Miniature figures stand amongst rubble and destroyed buildings in the Living Aleppo installation, depicting the city during conflict
Miniature figures positioned among rubble and debris in the Living Aleppo installation, with a blurred destroyed building and blue container in the background
Miniature figures holding Syrian flags and protest signs stand in a destroyed model city with ruined buildings in the background
Miniature figures scattered across a rubble-strewn courtyard with arched doorways in the background, part of Living Aleppo installation
Miniature model of destroyed Aleppo buildings with arched doorways and small figurines, part of Saskia Stolz's Living Aleppo installation at Museum Square in Amsterdam
A group of people holding banners and signs stand in snow in front of damaged multi-storey buildings in the Living Aleppo installation at Museum Square in Amsterdam
Miniature diorama of war-torn Aleppo showing a damaged car buried in rubble-covered street flanked by barbed wire fences and ruined buildings
Miniature figures navigate through a scaled model of destroyed Aleppo with blue tarpaulin covering rubble and stacked white debris, recreating the war-torn cityscape at Living Aleppo installation in Amsterdam
Visitors interact with miniature destroyed buildings and architecture at the Living Aleppo installation in Amsterdam's Museum Square under blue sky
Visitors explore the Living Aleppo miniature city installation at Museum Square in Amsterdam, with the cityscape visible in the background
Miniature model of destroyed Aleppo buildings displayed at Museum Square in Amsterdam, with visitors and historic architecture visible in the background
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