Youth initiative uses public art to showcase Irbid’s beauty

AMMAN — Architecture and design students in Irbid are using their skills to accentuate the beauty of neglected areas of the city, some 80km north of the capital. 

“We see beauty in every angle of Irbid,” Al Batool Hayajneh, the founder of the Talween initiative, told The Jordan Times.

Talween’s upcoming projects include painting a flight of stairs and a festive gift for the SOS Children’s Village, which cares for children who are orphaned or unable to live with their families. 

“We will draw a mural for the SOS Children in Irbid as a gift on the occasion of Eid, in addition to painting the stairs near the Ajloun bus station,” Hayajneh said. 

Talween’s first project was initiated in 2015 by 10 students of architecture and design from the Jordan University of Science and Technology, with the support of Irbid Municipality. 

Some 25 volunteers of all ages came from Irbid and Amman to help paint a flight of stairs in downtown Irbid, Hayajneh said, adding that both novice and experienced painters took part.  

“We painted the stairs near the municipality with blue and purple as they give a sense of calm and peace, because the area around the stairs in downtown are crowded with shops and people,” she said.

The artwork was named “Peace Stairs” to represent the fleeing of Syrian refugees to Jordan, Hayajneh added. 

“You can see the reaction of people using the stairs; they are happy and some even stop to take pictures of it,” the founder said.

Talween members apply what they have learned from studying architecture: to connect the use of facilities with memorable experiences, she explained. 

Hayajneh said the group chooses artwork that complements each site, but is careful to preserve the history of each place. 

“Art complements the state of the community. We cannot rebuild the city, but we can improve it and the way people feel about it,” she added.

“We are planning to expand Talween’s work to other governorates, but as students we cannot do much without the support of private sector,” Hayajneh noted, stressing that Talween is not just about painting walls.

“We care about every place that needs to be beautified, not only walls and stairs.”