Art from Heartache

The heartache of the war multiplies each day as the deaths pile up, as our leaders sup at laden tables and take their time to come to a ceasefire agreement, as hopes are tempered by the sheer waste and bloodshed.

The eight Palestinian and Jewish artists whose work is currently exhibit in the Oasis Art Gallery express their anger and pain through painting and sculpture. A large red stroke or a donkey silhouette on a bright background give insight into their identity and emotions.

In the beginning of July, curator Dyana Shaloufi Rizek opted to host a gallery talk, rather than an official opening. Six of the eight artists came to talk to a full gallery about their work, while two could not make it.

Abed Abdi, a well-known visual artist who promotes and references Palestinian art in his work is represented, as is Adi Yekutieli, a Jewish Israeli artist who uses his art for collaboration and conflict resolution. Ashraf Fawakhry, a Palestinian citizen of Israel uses the donkey as an ironic, iconic symbol of the patience, endurance and consistency of the Palestinian citizen living in steadfastness in his occupied land since 1948; Linda Taha’s portraits remind us of the burden Palestinian women bear; Ola Zareini’s work deals with themes of identity, struggle and suffering. Shulamit Yashar uses painting, drawing and digital media to express the connections between internal and external landscapes, Tal Gaash, has an idiosyncratic style that belies an attempt to cope with external reality within a personal world; Zohdy Qadry’s work uses abstract geometric shapes to explore order and disorder.

The result is an exhibit that is as inspiring as it is beautiful. It is an exhibit that carries with it the hope that as the war draws to a close, we will be able to adopt the cooperation and mutual understanding we need for healing, which will come about, in part, through art.