Ashraf Fawakhri's 'Persona Non Grata II' Exhibition Explores Identity Through Donkey Motif
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
Artist Ashraf Fawakhri's "Persona Non Grata II" exhibition in Haifa features digital prints using the donkey as a central motif to explore Palestinian identity, memory, and socio-political struggles. The exhibition, curated by Ziaad Hammoud, uses the donkey to symbolize resilience and critical observation. Fawakhri's work touches on themes of displacement, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the complexities of belonging. Some pieces mentioned in the catalog were not displayed.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ashraf Fawakhri's "Persona Non Grata II" exhibition in Haifa uses the donkey motif to explore identity and struggle.
- The exhibition employs digital printing techniques on canvas and Dibond.
- The donkey symbolizes resilience, patience, and a critical observer of daily life.
- Artworks address themes of Palestinian identity, displacement, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The exhibition catalog is available in both Arabic and Hebrew.
- Some works listed in the catalog were not present at the exhibition.
An exhibition titled "Persona Non Grata II" by artist Ashraf Fawakhri is currently on display at the Sand Gallery in Haifa's Wadi al-Selah neighborhood, housed within the Barufah Association building. The exhibition, curated by Ziaad Hammoud, utilizes digital printing techniques on canvas and Dibond. Fawakhri chose the donkey as a central motif, interpreting it as a symbol of resilience, patience, and a critical observer of daily struggles, embodying themes of identity, memory, and the 'other.'
The artworks address various socio-political issues, including Palestinian Authority dynamics, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the blockade, with the donkey depicted as a warrior connected to the land, holding onto hope and national identity. Pieces like "Palestinian Authority," "Jerusalem Post," "The Stuck 1,2," "Behind Bars 1,2," "Son of This Land 1,2," and "Jerusalem on My Mind" reflect these themes. The exhibition also touches upon Christian religious symbolism, linking the donkey to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Fawakhri prompts viewers to consider the multifaceted meaning of the donkey in his work: is it the Palestinian people enduring hardship, the artist himself grappling with identity, an outsider observing society, or a representation of humanity facing overwhelming burdens? The exhibition catalog, available in Arabic and Hebrew, complements the artworks. Hammoud noted that the donkey carries contradictory connotations, representing both weakness and strength, submission and resistance, silence and speech, allowing Fawakhri to explore the Palestinian experience, displacement, and complex social and political realities from both internal and marginal perspectives.
Notably, some works mentioned in the catalog, such as "My Homeland" and "New Middle East," were absent from the exhibition. The artist's previous exhibition with the same title, "Persona Non Grata," was held approximately ten years ago, referencing the work of the late poet Samih Al Qasim.