This is the second item in our 2026 culture special with reviews of artists' works with developmental relevance. War is raging in Syria, bombs are falling from the sky, people are starving and being buried in rubble, friends and relatives are dying. Father and son await the departure of their boat, together with other Syrians and people from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Eritrea. Mourning and melancholy mingle with fear of the terrors of the sea and the unknown. All of them have had to leave their countries in search of a new home abroad – well aware that they will be unwelcome guests there.

Source: The Guardian January 22, 2026 08:28 UTC