2026.09.14 Registration Open
Interdisciplinary Talk #12: Palmyra, a World Heritage in Syria: War, Looting, and Rebirth—Cultural Resilience Through the Lenses of Archaeology, Contemporary Art, and International Politics
Arts & Design
Intellectual Dialogue
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The ancient city of Palmyra, rising from the Syrian desert and once celebrated for its beauty and historical significance, has suffered immense damage due to the conflict that began in 2011. The destruction has extended far beyond monumental architecture. Countless cultural artifacts have been looted from the ruins, trafficked through the international black market, and are now scattered across the globe, severed from their original historical context.
This talk will feature archaeologist Kiyohide Saito, who has long been involved in surveying and preserving the Palmyra ruins; artist Sara Shamma, who has fled Syria twice and is currently exhibiting a new work themed “The Tower Tombs of Palmyra” at the Syrian Pavilion of the 61st Venice Biennale; and Ken Jimbo, professor of international relations specializing in security and international politics and IHJ representative director.
Saito has laid the groundwork for both academic and physical “restoration” by creating highly detailed 3D records of Palmyra’s structures prior to their destruction. Meanwhile, Shama is attempting a “reconstruction of memory” by transforming lost architectural spaces into immersive installations. Jimbo will examine the challenges posed by the destruction of cultural heritage from the perspective of international order.
Together, the speakers will explore cultural resilience—how heritage can be protected, reimagined, and potentially revived in the aftermath of conflict—from various perspectives.
Event Overview
| Date | Monday, September 14, 2026 7:00 pm-8:20 pm (Doors open 6:30 pm) |
| Venue | Lecture Hall, International House of Japan |
| Speaker | Kiyohide SAITO (Archaeologist) Sara SHAMMA (Artist) /via Zoom Ken JIMBO (Managing Director, International House of Japan) |
| Moderator | Yuko HASEGAWA (Director of Art and Design,International House of Japan) |
| Language | Japanese and English (with interpretation) *If you need an assistive listening device,please register by September 7 for planning purposes. |
| Admission | 3,000 yen (IHJ Members: 2,000 yen, Students: 1,000 yen) *Member pricing is available to IHJ members and their spouses or partners. Other accompanying guests will be charged the regular admission rate. |
Speakers
Technical Advisor, Nara Prefecture Kashihara Archaeological Institute
Kiyohide SAITO
Kiyohide Saito (b. 1953) received an M.A. from the University of Arizona and completed the master’s program in archaeology at Kansai University. After serving as Deputy Director of the Nara Prefecture Kashihara Archaeological Institute and Director of its affiliated museum, he assumed his current position in 2013.
From 1990 to 2011, Saito directed archaeological excavations as well as conservation and restoration projects at Palmyra, Syria. Since 2016, he has led excavations of burial mounds in Bahrain in search of evidence of the ancient Palmyrene caravan trade. Since 2017, he has been engaged in a training program for Syrian cultural heritage professionals commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
His publications include Palmyra World Heritage: From the Site of Destruction—The Syrian Conflict and Cultural Heritage (Yuzankaku, 2017) and Tomb F-Southeast Necropolis, Palmyra, Syria (Research Center for Silk Roadology, 2001), among others. He received the Japan ICOMOS Award in 2016 and the Commissioner’s Award for Cultural Affairs from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan, in 2021.
Artist
Sara SHAMMA
Sara Shamma (b. 1975, Damascus, Syria) is an internationally established contemporary painter based in Damascus and London. She is widely recognized for her powerful figurative practice, which explores the human condition through themes of identity, mortality, displacement, and psychological intensity.
Shamma graduated first in her class from the Painting Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University, in 1998. Over the past two decades, she has developed an extensive international practice, presenting solo exhibitions across Europe and the Middle East, including at the National Museum of Damascus and Dulwich Picture Gallery in London. Her critically acclaimed Modern Slavery series was exhibited at major UK cultural institutions between 2019 and 2021.
In 2026, Sara Shamma represents Syria at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Her work has also been presented at leading international exhibitions and events, including the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, the Florence Biennale, and NordArt, and is held in important public collections such as the National Museum of Damascus and the British Council.
Shamma’s practice is deeply informed by humanitarian engagement as well as artistic research. She has served as a Celebrity Partner of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and as Artist in Residence at King’s College London, while continuing to develop a body of work that addresses urgent social and human concerns. Today, she is regarded as one of the most significant contemporary painters to emerge from the Middle East, with a practice that resonates strongly with museums, curators, and collectors worldwide.
Managing Director, International House of Japan
Ken JIMBO
Ken Jimbo is Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. He served as a Special Advisor to the Minister of Defense, Japan Ministry of Defense (2020) and a Senior Advisor, The National Security Secretariat (2018-20).
His main research fields are in International Security, Japan-US Security Relations, Japanese Foreign and Defense Policy, Multilateral Security in Asia-Pacific, and Regionalism in East Asia. He has been a policy advisor for various Japanese governmental commissions and research groups including for the National Security Secretariat, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His policy writings have appeared in NBR, The RAND Corporation, Stimson Center, Pacific Forum CSIS, Japan Times, Nikkei, Yomiuri, Asahi and Sankei Shimbun.
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