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'Working on the rubble': Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

Artist Saype, renowned for his large-scale murals across the globe, revealed a new artwork on Friday, which is painted on rubble in the southern Turkish city of Antakya. The city had been affected by a destructive earthquake in February, and this mural represents a symbol of hope and resilience amid the tragedy.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

Artist Saype, known for his murals around the world, unveiled on Friday a piece painted on rubble in the southern Turkish city Antakya, devastated by February's deadly quake.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

The February 6 quake in Türkiye and war-ravaged Syria killed more than 55,000 people and left thousands homeless.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

The black and white mural of two hands holding each other was painted on 1,000 square meters (10,700 square feet) of rubble, in a space that was once home to residential buildings, a bakery and tailor.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

"It used to be a lively street," Guillaume Legros, known as Saype, told AFP.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

"When the earthquake hit, I was moved. I came here in July and I couldn't believe it. I realised the extent of the catastrophe," the Frenchman, whose wife was born in Türkiye, said.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

He decided to dedicate a project to the survivors of the earthquake on the ruins of the now unrecognisable ancient town.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

"I worked directly on the rubble, on old homes, on family photos. I'd never painted on stones before," the artist said, who is known for painting on grass.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

During the 16 days Saype was working on the piece, he met locals who had lived in tents and shipping containers for eight months since the disaster.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

"We met many people who used to live in the apartments upon whose rubble were painting. They came to collect objects."

"They were shocked but thanked us for coming," he said, adding that he wants his work to put a spotlight on the needs of survivors in Antakya.

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Working on the rubble: Artist paints on quake-hit Turkish city

The artist now plans to sell prints of the piece to raise money for survivors and families of victims.