On Location 2023

When words fail, art speaks

Our On Location exhibition introduces leading visual artists from Gaza and explores the motivations, frustrations and realities of being artists under siege.

In May 2023, we marked the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, when 750,000 Palestinians were forced to flee their homes in the historic land of Palestine. Under international law, these Palestinians have the right to return to their homes, but 75 years later, they are still waiting.

The Gaza Strip is home to over 2 million people trapped in a small area of just 365 km². Over 1.4 million of them are descendants of refugees from 1948. To mark this anniversary, we added eight remarkable Gazan artists to our On Location gallery.

Each artist overcame so many hurdles to create these works of incredible beauty and insight. Since 7th October 2023 and the devastating war that followed, Gaza’s cultural infrastructure has been systematically destroyed, making the preservation and sharing of this work more vital than ever. As you study their work and read their biographies, we hope that you will share our commitment to ensuring these voices are heard.

Many of these pieces challenge our expectations and remind us of the creativity that has long flourished in Gaza despite unimaginable constraints. They also allow us to glimpse why, 75 years after the Nakba, promoting Palestinian culture remains vital in maintaining Palestinian identity and demanding Palestinian rights.

We hope you will join us in celebrating the creativity and resilience of the Palestinian people.

Watch our short film about On Location →
On Location, Gaza | When words fail, art speaks

Project coordinator:
James Walmsley for Amos Trust