“No peace without justice, no justice without return,”
A slogan spray painted in various cities around the world; handprints in red plastered on the White House gates; and Banksy’s famous Balloon Girl on the West Bank Wall—art and resistance go hand in hand. We use art as a medium of expression, and that may come in different forms, from literal statues to graffiti on the wall to clothes and jewellery. It is a form of leisure and of freedom because, as much as we scream and protest for the freedom of the Palestinians, we have to write it too; we have to visualise what they are going through too. Art is preservation.
Covered readers might be familiar with artist Aya Charife; we learned more about her in our May 2020 issue, and now we have asked her about what her perspective as an artist is in the current global climate. Aya is a multi-award-winning interior architect, artist, and jewellery designer residing in Dubai with her family roots from Palestine. She is often inspired by what it means to take up space and what the human relationship between others and time is—something that the world needs to understand better as the Gazan people fight for a right to stay in their homeland.
Can you tell us about yourself and your family’s background?
A multi-award-winning artist and designer born in Tunisia grew up in the United Arab Emirates. My great grandfather, a Lebanese from the Chebaa’ Province, lived in the Al Jolan Area and built a mansion using ancient Roman castle stone ruins. My mother, who lived in Syria during the civil wars, shared the united cause of returning home. The story of my mother’s transition began after the 1948 Nakba, when my grandfather refused to sell lands to occupying forces. My great-grandparents never returned to Yafa, and the occupying forces offered a return on their terms but refused. Our generation, those who stayed in Palestine, became fighters for freedom, while those outside scattered into many countries.
Birth Certificate Chronicles: Yafa’s Multilingual Tale of 1935 in the Palestinian Landscape
A birth certificate in the city of Yafa, which is now called Tel Aviv by the occupying forces indicating in written Arabic the year of birth 1935, titled with three languages for all citizens living in harmony under the government of Palestine.
How does your background affect your work?
As a fourth-generation Palestinian, you acquire all these past events along with the feelings of your beloved, who lived in exile all their lives facing wars, along with my constant relocations while growing up as well as the constant monitoring of the ongoing battle for those who decided to stay. Gather all of that, as well as my appreciation for beauty, and you will get my feelings in art—a mix of arabesque fused with a modern abstract form of expression. If it were a choice, we would not be discussing the Palestinian cause in the first place. The honour of being able to live in your homeland, when taken away, is represented in art with the fierce, sharp, precise, and ambiguous use of colour and selection of material for every topic. The refined lines shall be back only when this right is back, and we do not witness the ethnic cleansing of our nation any more.
You have told us that you draw inspiration from happy moments, but how would you draw inspiration from what is happening in the world right now?
I express my artistic process based on my current feelings and experiences. With access to global resources, I believe that exposure to different stories allows for a more intense emotional experience. The ongoing ethnic cleansing in Gaza, involving up to 20,000 martyred civilians, highlights the need for artists to express themselves in various ways to commemorate their lives and add to the lost dreams of those who were never able to fulfil them. I emphasise that human life is not a choice but a destiny, and it is our duty to record it in history.
Describe how art is important to society.
Art has always been a form of documentation, whether in drawing, sculpture, or carving, and remains the only language that unites the world despite various cultures and languages. Today, we analyse life through historical sites, revealing the beauty of past cultures and means of living. Art is not just enjoyed for transferring feelings or facts but also serves as a means of communication through time. When inhuman, barbaric occupants take over a place, they burn libraries, art museums, and cultural documentation, disrespecting others’ individuality and freedom of choice. They also hide world communication sources from their people, limiting their understanding of peace and justice. Our mission is to preach through art in all its forms until the occupation ends.
How is art preservation important to society?
This is not only dresses; there is also art made using the beauty of olive trees, which dates back hundreds of years, some reaching a thousand years old, and the art of preserving this grace is alone a form of art passed on from one generation to another. The tradition of gliding women according to status involves gold liras hanging on the front of the forehead on a piece of custom hand-stitched embroidered headbands, indicating the village you are from, like a tiara. Every woman and girl in town parades her golden coins, earning more on each special occasion. The ancient tapestries kept in many homes were woven by women from their families’ careers, whether in agriculture, trade, or voyages. These small details across every household are still preserved, even when abroad or in exile, and are taught from one generation to another. What is feared is that someday such artworks will be kept in museums, indicating the existence of a nation that has grown extinct due to our silence in present times.
The above image showcases heritage and cultural dress of cities, each with unique embroidery and identity rooted in Palestine’s history, incorporating historical stories, living methods, and triumphs.
What is the role of an artist in society, and specifically, resistance?
Proposal of solutions visually to aid in the understanding of future public orientation By this, I mean the campaign on a political level to fight a certain ideology is always issued using the art of communication to the public through art visuals, expression, and the carefully studied behaviour of the spokesperson representing a cause, aided with imagery to empower his statement. It is our obligation to investigate what is right and wrong, what is in favour of the safety of a nation or even a human right. The expression needs to advocate for the cause to right a wrong, document the course of action during the time frame to live long enough throughout history, and tell stories of what debate happened during this specific event. Considering what is happening and the amount of rich material to work with regarding the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of our nation, artists will produce millions of art frames from around the world to live and tell the future what is happening, not just artworks by Palestinian artists.
Being an artist, would you say that art is the preservation of human life, and how so?
Absolutely. We learn from past events in order not to repeat the same mistakes, don’t we?
As an artist, cultural awareness is crucial for expression. Thus, what form of cultural background is fed to the Israeli public for proper documentation? Imagine an entire nation building false information via art for their future generation to see and that future generation to wake up to. Perhaps with freedom of mind and liberation from the truth, how would they see the past doings of their ancestors’? Wouldn’t they be ashamed of their ignorance? Art is a sensitive essence of documentation, and I wonder if we asked an Israeli occupant, biased and rooted in his cause, to paint their history, how would they draw the beginning of their existence? It would certainly illustrate the killing of fellow human beings based on their choice of religion to enforce their existence on other people’s lands.
Art and people should occupy space—something Palestinian people are fighting for. How can art be a part of that?
We can stand in solidarity for expression in all forms of art, be it music, painting, performance, speech, etc. to shed light on the century-long case of dehumanisation of natives on their land. Palestine has been a country of peace for all biblical religions since our Prophet Moses, to the birth of our Prophet Christ, and the end of scriptures by our Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon them). What do aggressors among Israeli citizens and militants have to say to our prophet Moses, were he among us? Under what biblical religion is it permissible to steal and kill innocent people?
This traditional Tetreez canvas artwork, created by Aya Charife‘s mother, preserves cultural beauty and history. It features a special net for stitching, showcasing the mother’s skill in stitching intricate details. The artwork, a masterpiece, tells a story of beauty and compassion.
How can Palestinian art and stories be preserved?
In each country where celebrating freedom of speech and expression is encouraged, with every work of art we produce that is exposed to the public and every notion celebrating the freedom of a nation from siege and injustice, if any form of that art has a visual proof, this image will remain until the end of time.
In all forms of art, there is some kind of communication, the “visual sound,” that can transcend languages, borders, creeds, and ethnicity. As artists, and with this power, it is our duty to document and put all our efforts into trying to help those who are fooled by personal interests over bloodshed realise the errors of their ways.
In October 2023, an artwork titled Under Siege depicts a vase deformed by Palestinian natives’ struggle for land freedom, illustrating the new occupying force controlling access to vital life sources. The structure is adorned with spiky casuarina cones.
Harmony Amidst Turmoil: An Urban Acoustic Installation Inspiring Peace and Advocacy for Youth in Conflict Zones
An urban installation uses acoustic elements to create a peaceful perspective, promoting individual health and progress. This biodegradable component alters our perception of reality, reminding us of the challenges faced by youth in conflict zones like Palestine. The stark contrast between the tranquillity and harsh reality serves as a call to action for a world where peace and safety are fundamental rights for all.
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