Gaza: Between Life and Loss: A New Exhibit at Refugee Eye Gallery

Refugee Eye Gallery will present a new exhibit, Gaza: Between Life and Loss, featuring Gazan artists who are still in the city as well as refugees from various locations. Artists include: painter Malak Mattar, illustrator Bayan Abu Nahla, and photographers Suhail Nassar, Asil AlKabariti, and Rehaf Al Batniji. 

War and famine continue in Gaza. We’ve lost loved ones, and our homes and streets are unrecognizable. While we, as Palestinians all over the world, experience collective grief, Refugee Eye Gallery returns this year with a special exhibition that both features and is curated and organized by artists from Gaza. Our goal is to create a space where we can raise our voices with visual stories and memories of a home that is no longer the same.

Come in the evening Friday, April 5, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., to visit our little Gaza and see our home through the perspectives of these visual artists. We will have Palestinian homemade food by Mishmish Souq, music by Palestinian musician Clarissa Bitar, and special photo prints from Gaza. Proceeds from this event will directly help individual artists’ journeys and survival as well as allow Refugee Eye Gallery to host more events in April and May that spotlight art and culture from Palestine.

Artists:

Malak Mattar

Malak Mattar is a Palestinian visual artist and author of the children’s book Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story. She uses various mediums, including painting, drawing, and digital art, to depict the experiences of Palestinians living under occupation and the impact of the conflict in Palestine on children.

Asil AlKabariti

Asil AlKabariti is a street photographer deeply inspired by the vibrant energy and diverse tapestry of her hometown in Gaza. She captures the essence of her home with an unwavering curiosity and keen eye for detail. Her photography reflects an intimate relationship with Gaza, a city teeming with life, contradictions, and beauty. From the city’s vibrant markets to its quiet alleyways, AlKabariti offers viewers a window into Gaza’s soul. Her intention as an artist is to celebrate the city’s resilience, diversity, and humanity, inviting viewers to join her on a journey of discovery through the rich tapestry of Gaza. 

Rehaf Al Batniji

Rehaf Batniji is a self-taught photographer and visual artist who has lived through five major conflicts. Her work captures the essence of life, culture, and identity. Choosing to be creative in the most challenging of times is one of the highest forms of resistance and love. Rehaf believes in the power of art as a source of healing and justice. She spends much of her time teaching photography to both youth and adults in Gaza, helping them to simultaneously capture and process their extraordinary ways of life. 

Suhail Nassar

Suhail Nassar is a Gaza-based street photographer who has documented urban life in the city over the past couple of years. Home to over two million people, Gaza is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Yet with the population of Gaza living under occupation by Israel, the vibrancy of everyday life often gives way to the desolation of destruction as its buildings and populace are carpet bombed. Through his lens, Nassar manages to chronicle the catastrophes that befall Gaza, as well as the fleeting moments of peace in between them that are so rarely shared.

Bayan Abu Nahla

Bayan Abu Nahla is a Gaza-based artist whose illustrations thoroughly capture and document the emotions of numerous individuals, including herself. Her emphasis lies in creating meaningful and intriguing art pieces that tell the story of her city.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Refugee Eye Gallery, 849 Valencia Street, San Francisco, United States