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In war-torn Gaza, strict Israeli restrictions on aid and commercial goods have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis that the UN labeled as “catastrophic” on 12 November, warning of the looming threat of famine. Despite these dire circumstances, a resilient group of Gazan artists persists in creating art. Facing acute shortages, they ingeniously transform available materials into mediums of expression, documenting the relentless conflict encircling them. The Art Newspaper interviewed four artists who, despite chaos and destruction, are using their art to preserve memories of life in Gaza and share their narratives globally.
Khaled Hossein, a sculptor from Rafah in southern Gaza, initially found himself rooted at home when the conflict began. Designated as a safe zone by Israel, Rafah became a refuge for many. Hossein focused on his family’s survival, leaving little time for art, until he was forced to flee in May 2024 when the war reached Rafah, destroying his home. Relocating to Deir al-Balah, he rekindled his passion for sculpture amidst supportive friends.
For Hossein, molding clay becomes a moment of peace in chaos, facilitating a unique coexistence with his surroundings. "The clay creates a strange state of coexistence with the place, as if I don’t see, hear or speak," he explains.
Raed Issa has turned his temporary shelter into a creative haven dubbed “my studio in the tent”, where he seeks solace amidst the instability. Once the co-founder of Gaza’s first contemporary art space, which was demolished in December 2023, Issa has been displaced multiple times. Now residing in Deir al-Balah, he continues to document his experience "almost every day" through a visual diary of his surroundings, sharing these depictions on social media platforms.
Lacking traditional art materials, Issa resourcefully uses remnants like aid boxes and medical envelopes as canvases, employing unconventional pigments such as tea and rust. This creative adaptation has become a beloved method. Passionate about nurturing young talents, Issa opens his tent studio to displaced children, encouraging them to express genuine emotions through art.
Issa calls upon the global art community for support through exhibition and acquisition of Gazan art. “This war is a long nightmare... But we have not despaired or broken,” he shares.
Popular performance artist and muralist Ayman Al Hossary had to abandon his home in northern Gaza with his family, only to find it reduced to rubble. Now frequently displaced, Al Hossary uses the debris around him as a canvas for his art, utilizing remaining supplies to paint calligraphy expressing the grief of lost homes and lives. His work, often depicting mournful eyes on destroyed buildings, acts as a testament to the widespread devastation.
Despite dwindling resources, Al Hossary continues painting to lift spirits, especially involving children to foster a temporary escape from war realities. "What motivates me most is people’s interaction with art,” he notes, acknowledging the positive impact of his work.
Artist and art therapist Ahmed Muhanna's life unraveled with the onset of war, leaving him unable to engage in art for months. Observing refugees outside his Deir al-Balah studio spurred him to action—documenting the experiences around him using aid boxes as canvases. These boxes’ inscriptions add layers to his narrative of wartime life.
Muhanna dedicates time to working with children in camps, encouraging their artistic expression as a therapeutic outlet. His own children also participate, sometimes capturing harrowing themes of violence. The challenge of scarce materials persists, prompting Muhanna’s plea for international support to continue his vital work. “I desperately need tools. I am looking everywhere for supplies to keep working, drawing, and helping children,” he states.
