New mural wall, designed by Palestinian artist, in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
On Saturday the 31st of May Bristol community came together to help paint a mural designed by Palestinian artist from Nablus, Jamila. The mural was designed in response to an artwork made by an artist in Gaza who was also painting on that same day.
The design is a hopeful image of a family on a path to beyond the apartheid wall to a free Palestine. The community connected to this image of liberation though collective painting. It was a needed space to collectively dream and grieve, during the continued fight for a free Palestine
Through the sale of art prints made by Jamila (@artful.narrative) £111 was raised to send families in Gaza.
PRSC were grateful to be able to support the project by supplying paints and painting equipment, and offering a mural space.
Artist statement:
As a Palestinian artist, I use my art to advocate for the right to a free Palestine. Watching the situation escalate to such unspeakable levels of suffering is incredibly difficult. What keeps me grounded is staying connected with people who approach this cause with compassion and humanity.
Recently, I responded to a call for artists and had the honor of creating a piece inspired by artwork from an artist in Gaza. I wanted my contribution to be hopeful, to tell a story of a free Palestine where children can live in peace, happiness, and safety. What made the experience even more meaningful was how the entire community came together to help paint the mural. It took over seven hours of work, but every minute brought us closer, not just to the artwork, but to each other. We shared smiles, stories, and hopeful conversations. It reminded us that even in the face of war, we are not powerless. We can still create, connect, and keep hope alive.
Statement from The Gaza Biennale:
The Gaza Biennale – Jinnaah UK put a call out a few weeks ago for communities, anywhere across the UK to respond to one of our artists work:, Mohammed Al Haj, with a mural response piece. The idea was to create response pieces across the UK simultaneously to us in London, replicating one of his works with our finger prints during our first major INDEPENDANT exhibition
على أنقاض هذا العالم | Upon the Ruins of the World.
The work in question is from his series Abu Al-Kuffiyeh which is part of the Gaza Biennale.
Community in Bristol responded.
And although this piece made in Bristol is not officially part of the Gaza Biennale, we hope it serves as an extension of our expansive ways of thinking and allows for more awareness towards the active work we are doing and the artists we are so proud of, in this time of genocide and beyond.
At Jinnaah UK – We do not believe in highlighting individual gain from the Biennale, as the only individuals who should be highlighted through our work are the Gaza Biennale artists themselves.