A Canvas for Solidarity
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been invited to create a new artwork at Viernulvier in Ghent, a city I’ve considered my home in Europe. This opportunity allows me to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, something deeply personal and important to me.
The project will transform a large canvas covering Viernulvier’s building facade during its renovation. I immediately felt inspired when Róise Goan, the artistic coordinator, reached out, knowing that this space could become a powerful platform for reflection and awareness.
My goal is to create an artwork that resonates emotionally with viewers, using the canvas to communicate the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people. I’m especially excited about incorporating the building’s unique architecture, like the jutting staircase, into a three-dimensional design that enhances the visual impact.
The work will be inspired by Ghassan Zaqtan's poem "By Habit", which speaks to the ongoing struggles of life under occupation. I hope to convey a message of solidarity through this piece that reflects the realities of the Palestinian experience and invites conversation and connection here in Ghent.
By force of habit
Ghassan Zaqtan
The soldier that the squad left in the garden,
the squad that the border guards left at the checkpoint,
the checkpoint that the occupation left at the crossing,
the occupation that the politician left in our lives,
the politician who was a soldier in the occupation,
the Merkava that the army left at the school,
the army that the war left in the city,
the war which the general left in the bedroom,
the general whom the peace left in our sleep,
the peace that was driving the Merkava,
still snipe at our heads without orders,
just so,
by force of habit.
Translated by Robin Moger
This poem was part of the book that was published by Seagull
you can buy it at The Seagull Books Store
Uit gewoonte
Ghassan Zaqtan
De soldaat die vergeten werd door de patrouille in het park
De patrouille die de grenswachten bij de controlepost vergaten
De barrière die de bezetting vergat ligt op de drempel
Het beroep dat de politicus in ons leven vergat
De politicus die soldaat was tijdens de bezetting
De Merkava die het leger op school vergat
Het door de oorlog vergeten leger is in de stad
De oorlog die de generaal in de kamer vergat
De generaal die de vrede in onze slaap vergat
Vrede die de Merkava leidde
Ze schieten ons nog steeds door het hoofd
Zonder bestellingen
dus
Uit gewoonte
بحكم العادة
غسان زقطان
الجندي الذي نسيته الدورية في الحديقة
الدورية التي نسيها حرس الحدود على الحاجز
الحاجز الذي نسيه الاحتلال على العتبة
الاحتلال الذي نسيه السياسي في حياتنا
السياسي الذي كان جنديا في الاحتلال
الميركافا التي نسيها الجيش في المدرسة
الجيش الذي نسيته الحرب في المدينة
الحرب التي نسيها الجنرال في الغرفة
الجنرال الذي نسيه السلام في نومنا
السلام الذي كان يقود الميركافا
مازالوا يطلقون النار على رؤوسنا
دون أوامر
هكذا
بحكم العادة