30.10.24, 18:00, Alaa Mahdi Kudaih, Gaza: The Shape of Art Under Siege

Photographer, psychologist and writer Alaa Mahdi Kudaih presents a series of posters with photos from Gaza at het paviljoen. Alaa will be present for a projection of images from the region, poetry and stories about friends who became martyrs.

What does it mean to be a photographer under siege? To capture the beauty of nature and people—art, love, life, and vibrant colors—only to now face the reality that all that remains is grey? How does it feel to witness Gaza’s past life, with its stunning sunsets and lively streets, then see a photo you took of the same place, now reduced to rubble, labeled with the name of an unknown martyr? How easy is it to be an artist under siege? How important is art in Gaza, and how difficult is it to create? How do you resist through art? In Gaza, art becomes a way to feel free, even when surrounded by tanks, showered by bullets, and facing death every day. Presentation, experiences, stories, and examples of how art survives as a form of resistance amid genocide, destruction, and despair.

• Alaa Mahdi Kudaih