Solidarity with Palestine through art

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The recent exhibition “River Two Seas” hosted by the Amana Creative Collective at The Collective Hub in Manama’s Yateem Centre drew attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and aimed to cultivate solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The exhibition, the collective’s first, showcased artworks that centered on breaking the borders between lands, conveying the message that despite the countless boundaries separating Bahrain from Gaza, the shared pain and yearning for freedom transcends these divisions.

Many attendees wore the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, a symbol of their support for the Palestinian cause, while a whiteboard was provided for visitors to express messages of solidarity for the people of Gaza. The Daily Tribune interviewed multiple artists about their paintings and the significance or symbolism behind them.

Local artist Fawaz AlAliwat’s painting, “The Sacrifice,” was a powerful depiction of a Palestinian youth standing defiant against oppression, rising like a phoenix from the ashes. “Fire & stone is not merely a series of images; it is a window into the soul of a people,” he said.

“It is the testament to their resilience, their faith and their unwavering determination to reclaim their land.” “Let the flames of hope ignite, let the stones of resistance rise, and let the legacy of the Palestinian people continue to inspire generations to come,” he added. Marwa Ali Ahmed’s piece, “Stolen Childhood Liberates Palestine,” focused on the stolen childhood of Gazan children, with over 14,000 martyrs, missing children, and many wounded.

“They are the ones who will liberate Palestine with their unbreakable faith, as one child in Gaza equals 60 men,” she stated. “This stolen childhood shall rise and strike, and free Palestine.” Layla Alammari’s “Watermelon Collage” represented the fractured yet united Palestinian people, with the iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque serving as an anchor and a symbol of resilience.