Gaza Artist Malak Mattar on Her Exhibition Calling for Life, Equality, and Dignity

Exhibition as a Political Statement

• 🎨 Malak Mattar's exhibition, "Falasteen," at Central Saint Martins was a statement against the genocide and a declaration of Palestinian existence.
• 📣 She aimed to assert Palestinians' right to life, freedom, and dignity, responding to a perceived lack of political action.
• 💔 Mattar left Gaza just before October 7th and is deeply affected by the ongoing conflict, with family members killed and trapped.

Art as Resistance and Resilience

• 💪 Despite the devastation, Mattar finds motivation in her art to keep Palestine at the forefront of the art world.
• 💡 She emphasizes that growing up in Gaza instilled a sense of purpose and the right to speak up for her people through her work.
• 🎨 Her artistic style reflects the darkest moments of Palestinian history, with colors initially reflecting paralysis and grief, but with an underlying belief in hope and solidarity.

"Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story"

• 📖 Mattar's book, "Sitti's Bird," tells the story of Palestinian children whose narratives are often untold.
• 🌟 It centers on a young girl dreaming of becoming an artist and traveling, a dream interrupted but persistent, resonating globally and now in its fourth edition.
• 💔 The book highlights the violated childhood and lost innocence in Gaza, where half the population are children.

Art's Role in Politics and Identity

• 🖼️ As curator for a Palestinian benefit concert, Mattar brought Palestinian visual art to a wider audience, shaping narratives through art.
• 🗣️ She views art as humanity's language and a form of resistance against occupation, using symbols like oranges and olive trees.
• 🌍 While international recognition of Palestine is a step forward, Mattar stresses the urgent need for tangible actions to stop the genocide and bloodshed before any future planning can occur.