Makanak Sir Ayed Arafah’s
first solo show is an amusing and unique exhibition despite its relatively
small size. As an artist who came from Bethlehem and to Bethlehem, he sums up
his years of experience in this show. His work has been exhibited in different
places around the world prior to this moment.
In this exhibition, the artist wanted to tackle the normal and the ordinary
side of life both in his home and in his surroundings. His effort and
experience are unmissable in forms and paintings with a keen sense in tackling
topics that draw our attention to the simple objects giving them a sense of heroism;
it gives things different roles than what we usually undertake in previous
situations and understandings.
“Makanak Sir”; the name of this solo exhibition has dual meaning. It could translate
as “walk in your place” or it can also mean ‘the secret in your place’ and Ayed
depicts both in his work. However we leave for the eye of the beholder and
his/her imagination to see the meaning they can relate most to themselves.
Like the suspended bull, the questions remain hanging, where did
this bull come from? And where will he end up?
With pride and joy, I am thrilled to introduce to you this
wonderful exhibition, an exhibition with a taste of a country and a real life,
not the taste of news bulletins that exhaust the soul and confuse our
consciousness.
Khaled Hourani
Ramallah, Palestine
2017
Ayed Arafeh
Born in Jerusalem (1983) and living in Dheshe camp Bethlehem. He studied
in The International Academy of Arts Ramallah. His works vary between forming
and installation also in video and photography. Ayed is open to working with
different materials and is interested in recycling. Art to Ayed is a journey of
searching and discovering and finding solutions while suing different materials
and cultural concepts. In 2003 He was a winner of the “Christ in the
Palestinian Context’” for his interpretive version of Michelangelo’s “Pieta,”
where he depicted Mary as a Palestinian woman carrying her son, the martyr,
represented by Jesus the contest that was organized by Diyar Consortium
Bethlehem . In 2010 , he was the third place winner at the A.M Qattan Foundation Young Artist Award
for his work “Bog-Jet Bahar” or “Sea Package,” that was displayed later on at
the Mosaic Rooms Gallery – Qattan foundation in London in 2010.
Since
then, Ayed
participated in many residencies, art projects and exhibitions locally and internationally
, :
In 2009 Ayed organized and led “Art Wave” an art
workshop that combined a number of Palestinian
Artists to discuss the theme of identity . At the same year , Ayed participated
in an academic art project at Oslo’s Khio University –Norway.
In 2011 , Ayed attended an art workshop and
exhibition “Hirarchy” Cairo –Egypt. And he also attended student exchange at Brighton University, and participated at “Truth is Concrete” program in
Graz, Austria. In 2013 As an artist in
residence at Cittadellarte in Biella, Italy, Ayed’s work focused on the social
dimension of art represented in an interactive piece, “Baskets Ball,” which is
a giant ball made from colorful wastebaskets that he rolled around the small
town of Biella, making it a tool for social connection and interaction.
In 2015 Ayed participated in the Art project
“See you in the Hague” organized by Stoom Den Haag in - Netherlands. Also in
2015 Ayed was selected to participate in the project “Re-Think Palestine” that
includes European and Palestinian artist s, the project took place in Hisham’s
Palace Jericho. He also participated in the collective exhibition “Salt and
water” at Or Gallery-Canada. Add to his participation at Qalandia International in 2016 and in 2017 he participated at the
collective exhibition at Bab idDeir art
Gallery Bethlehem.
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