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October 2024: Gaza art installation confirmed

OCTOBER 2024: Gaza art installation at Barcelona creative festival Blend to convey the ‘fear and destruction’ of war.

 New Barcelona-based creative industry festival Blend is set to have on show the evocative work of Palestinian artist Maisara Baroud.

The Gaza-based visual artist caught the attention of international media with his stunning exhibition ‘I am Still Alive’ (2024). Through his art, Baroud creates daily documentation of the fear and destruction he sees all around him.

For the first time, Baroud will have some of his thought-provoking work proudly on display in Barcelona at Blend on 8 November.

Speaking about being part of Blend, the Gaza native said: “Having my art on display at Blend in the beautiful city of Barcelona is an opportunity to visually portray in a different artistic space, the reality of the fear, destruction and death that is happening each day in Gaza,” commented Baroud.

 “Blend offers a chance to engage in visual artistic dialogue with a group of professionals in the field, where creators meet. I am honoured to have been selected to participate in Blend and only wish that the circumstances were better, in a time of comprehensive peace, far from the ongoing daily loss of life.”

Elaborating on his creative process in Gaza’s war-torn surroundings, Baroud spoke about his desire to use art for good and as a way of chronicling the day-to-day struggle to keep his family safe and survive.

“For me, I didn’t see creativity during massacre and genocide as a goal to pursue. I saw the artwork I produced as a message documenting the daily war chronicles. A message through which I convey the narrative as I see and experience it, far from official rhetoric and propaganda. It wasn’t easy—I’m constantly trying to survive, searching for safety for myself and my family while finding enough time to meet the daily needs of my family.

“I spend long days searching for food and drink in the face of constant, ongoing power, fuel, and cooking gas shortages,” he continued. “Finding a means of communication with others through my art has become one of the hardest tasks I undertake daily.”

Maisara Baroud Biography
Baroud’s art practice is characterised by the duality of black and white. Using unique techniques, he seeks to capture the essence of suffering through a human lens in his works. These pieces form an aesthetic expression depicting the global struggles people face around the world, with a special focus on Palestinian suffering. His works address themes like war, migration, political prisoners, and unlawful detention.

Baroud’s art evokes emotions ranging from sadness, violence, and pain to concepts of peace, hope, and freedom. His work portrays a life interwoven with continuous cycles of death and survival. Maisara Baroud lives and works in Gaza.

 About Blend

Blend is a free-to-attend international one-day festival, designed to unite creative minds and brands to learn, imagine and develop high-impact collaborations together.

Colocated with the iconic digital arts and contemporary music festival MIRA, Blend will be jam-packed with carefully curated content including keynotes from true agents of change, avant-garde art installations, immersive experiences, transformative workshops, insightful panel discussions and live performances.

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