‘Fragmentation’ at Anima Gallery in collaboration with The Palestinian Museum – Birzeit

Anima Gallery, in collaboration with The Palestinian Museum – Birzeit, presents Fragmentation, an exhibition highlighting the works of Palestinian artists living in their homeland alongside those from the diaspora. The show delves into the theme of cultural fragmentation, examining the connection between Palestinians who remain on their ancestral lands and those scattered across the globe, while underscoring the resilience of Palestinian identity in the face of ongoing attempts at erasure since the 1948 Nakba.

The exhibition features works by Palestinian artists including Alaa Albaba, Afia Nawasra, Amjad Ghannam, Bashar Alhroub, Essa Ghrayeb, Fouad Ighbarie, Hiba Tannous, Jawad Al Malhi, Khaled Hourani, Majd Masri, Mohammad Saleh Khalil, Nabil Anani, Reem Masri, Reem Natsheh, and Tayseer Barakat, reflecting a homeland in flux and addressing themes of fragmentation and resilience.

Artists from the diaspora, such as Abdelrahman Katanani, Aissa Deebi, Hazem Harb, Jumanah Abbas, and Noor Abu Issa, offer perspectives shaped by physical distance yet tied to the shared narrative of displacement and identity.

These contemporary Palestinian artists reflect on the socio-political landscape and personal experiences shaped by displacement. Nabil Anani’s art narrates folkloric and political themes of Palestinian life, while Tayseer Barakat draws from ancient traditions, using a monochromatic palette to reflect regional hardships. Hazem Harb explores Palestinian history through a contemporary lens, balancing personal memory with broader socio-political commentary. Bashar Alhroub interrogates the role of place in identity formation, informed by his experiences of displacement. Jumanah Abbas focuses on the fragmented auditory landscape of the West Bank, delving into the political dimensions of sound and infrastructure. Reem Masri explores the relationship between land, memory, and identity, using painting, collage, and installation. Afyaa Al-Nawasrah’s work engages with the body’s relation to Palestinian society, reflecting the impacts of Zionist colonialism.

Majd Masri explores contradictions in daily life, using paintings and installations to engage with personal and societal landscapes. Heba Tannous captures the intersection between urban morphology and street life, depicting the organized chaos of urban environments. Amjad Ghannam addresses themes of absence, identity, and the complexities of living in a politically charged environment. Mohamed Saleh Khalil, who founded the Young Artists Forum in Ramallah, explores daily life in Palestine, drawing inspiration from German Expressionism. Lastly, Fouad Agbaria engages with themes of identity and the evolving nature of Palestinian culture and society, working on projects that raise the profile of Palestinian artists within historic Palestine. Together, these artists offer a multi-faceted exploration of the Palestinian experience, reflecting both personal and collective narratives.