CIVICUS discusses the Gaza Biennale project with Omaid Sharifi, president of ArtLords, a grassroots artivist collective seeking to harness the transformative power of art. ArtLords began in 2014 in Afghanistan with the vision of using the blank walls of the capital, Kabul, as canvases to paint messages of peace, hope and social change.

Palestinian artists are organising a biennale to showcase their resilience and highlight the plight of the 2.3 million people living under siege and bombardment in Gaza. They will exhibit their work in Gaza and are seeking international partners to host exhibitions abroad and help overcome the challenges of transporting art across Israeli borders. The event embodies resistance and defiance, as well as an assertion of identity and hope in the face of destruction.

What’s the Gaza Biennale?

The Gaza Biennale is a groundbreaking initiative that highlights the creativity and resilience of Palestinian artists living in some of the most difficult conditions in the world. It showcases a wide range of art, from large-scale murals depicting the daily struggles of life in Gaza to contemporary installations exploring themes of loss, hope and cultural identity.

One of the standout pieces is a mural of children flying kites against the backdrop of a bombed-out building, symbolising both fragility and the enduring sense of hope. Another striking installation uses fragments of demolished houses to create a mosaic, representing the persistence of life in the midst of destruction.

The Biennale goes beyond showcasing art. It seeks to connect global audiences with the lived experiences of Palestinians, fostering empathy and solidarity. Through the universal language of art, it wants to inspire movements for justice and peace. It demonstrates that creativity can transcend borders and unite people around shared values.

Where do Palestinian artists draw inspiration from?

Palestinian artists draw deeply from their cultural heritage, the resilience of their communities and their lived experiences of living under occupation. Their work serves as a form of resistance. It celebrates identity, preserves traditions and challenges oversimplified global narratives.

Take, for example, Nidaa Badwan’s 100 Days of Solitude series. The photographs capture her self-imposed isolation and turn her small room into a creative sanctuary. Her vibrant, introspective photographs contrast the limitations of her environment with the boundless possibilities of the artistic imagination. Similarly, Mohammed Sabaaneh’s black-and-white political cartoons depict the daily struggles and aspirations of Palestinians, offering deeply personal insights that transcend political debates.

Through visual art, music and poetry, Palestinian creatives humanise their struggle and invite the world to see Palestine not just as a zone of conflict, but as a place of culture, creativity and the universal yearning for freedom and dignity.

How can artivism reshape narratives and bring hope in the midst of conflict?

Artivism – the combination of art and activism – has a unique power to reshape narratives, amplify silenced voices and inspire hope and collective action. In conflict zones, where despair often reigns, artivism transforms pain into resilience and physical barriers such as walls into symbols of connection and healing.

ArtLords, for example, transforms scarred landscapes in Kabul into spaces for dialogue through murals. These serve as historical markers, depicting moments of hope and resistance during years of turmoil. A striking example is the ‘I See you’ mural of open eyes on a government building in Afghanistan, symbolising accountability and challenging corruption. These public artworks reclaim spaces that were once symbols of oppression and empower communities to tell their own stories in powerful ways.

Artivism takes many forms, from digital art and exhibitions to poetry and performance. Syrian refugee artists, for example, use digital platforms to depict scenes of life before the war, reminding the world of the humanity overshadowed by conflict. These creative expressions build bridges across divides, demonstrating that even in the harshest of circumstances, art can light the way to peace and understanding.

Art serves as a powerful archive, preserving the struggles, resilience and stories of communities for future generations, but beyond mere documentation, it also inspires action and educates future movements about the emotional and social landscapes of our time. It challenges attempts to erase or forget excluded voices, and creates a foundation for justice and equality by embedding these experiences in the collective memory of humanity.