We had the privilege of sitting down with Malak Mattar who is part of the Bethlehem Cultural Festival. This festival shines a light on the arts, culture and heritage of Palestine, putting the region’s historic culture and artistic output centre stage. Malak Mattar, a visual artist based in Gaza, her talk Women under siege – survival through art is at The Tabernacle, London W11 on 1 December.
- Could you tell us a little about the release and escape that painting has offered for you?
Growing up in an artistic family with love and passion for visual arts and poetry has nurtured my love for Art as a way of self-expression and telling a story in a humanitarian way. I was painting like any child but my art journey took off during the Israeli attack of 2014 where my neighbour got brutally killed by a missile. The tension of this moment and the close feelings of death with repeated bombardments in the surroundings of my home has led me to look for a way to escape the feeling of death – and sketching was the way. I started using watercolour which was an award from my school.
- You’re livestreaming to the festival in London from Gaza, how is the situation currently?
The situation in Gaza is relatively calm however it is hard to predict since wars always happen without notice in the war zone.
- Do you appreciate the opportunity to showcase the difficulties Palestinians still face or do you wish more action was taken?
I feel responsible to deliver the injustices happening in my own country to people and throughout my activism and advocacy, I noticed the impact of art in doing so. I believe people are responsible to learn about the Palestinian cause and to take action to oppose the occupation in all possible ways as well protesting against the support for the apartheid state that enables the massacres on my home country. People have the power.
Malak is 22 years old (23 in December)