Biography
Mohamed Abusal (b. 1976, Gaza) artistic projects are daring, critical and scathing comments on what is deemed permissible in terms of technology and civilization in Gaza today. His “Metro in Gaza” (2012) proposes a network of seven metro lines to connect the different areas of Gaza Strip. He made an illuminated metro sign and set off to fix and photograph this sign wherever he imagines the metro stations should be. His “Shambar” (2013) is on the alternative and creative light solutions created or lived by people in Gaza as a result of the continuous disconnection of electricity. Shown at Al-Mamal Foundation in Jerusalem, Institute de Monde Arab and collected by The War Imperial Museum in London, the work exists in photographic and painting series. Also he presented “Pain-Fortable”, which expresses the concept of false comfort regarding the right to housing in the Gaza, using heavy cement blocks from houses that were subjected to missile strikes, and re-employing them as sculptures in the form of luxury furniture. Abusal exhibited extensively around the world over the last decade, notably in France, where he has had several solo exhibitions, in addition to the US, UK, Australia, and Dubai. In 2005 he was awarded the Charles Aspry Prize for Contemporary Art. He is a founding member of “Eltiqa”, an active group of contemporary artists that came together in 2002. And he is a founding member of HAWAF Collective, their developing a virtual museum called “SAHAB Imaginary Museum”.