“Besieged Childhood” was my first large-scale artwork in Gaza.
It was a huge challenge because, in Gaza, we don’t have the
resources or equipment to paint on buildings. There was no
special paint or modern tools, but we decided to prove to
ourselves and the world that we can create art from nothing, to
make something that expresses our struggles and dreams,
despite all the difficult circumstances.
The idea came from my personal experience, and the execution
was in collaboration with artists Majed Mqaddad, Mohammad
Zaki, and Mohammad Zakaria. Together, we used whatever
simple materials we had and focused on the children of Gaza.
Children who live in difficult conditions and witness war and
destruction every day, but despite everything, their dreams and
childhood remain alive in their hearts.
The mural expressed this childhood growing under siege, the
hope that still exists despite everything they go through. It was a
message to the world that here in Gaza, despite all odds, we
continue to create, make art, and turn pain into hope.
