Shahid is an interactive audio-visual installation composed of four illustrations drawn on a mirror spanning the width of the wall; these drawings reference poignant moments that went viral across social media, resulting in an unprecedented number of witnesses to this live tragedy. Visitors' reflections in the mirror, among depictions of the victims, emphasise their role as witnesses. The experience is intensified by an image of Gaza’s destroyed cityscape reflected in the mirror and a recorded recitation by visitors of the names and ages of martyrs.
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Since 1948, the world has borne witness to the plight of Palestine, to the atrocities committed from the Nakba (the catastrophe) onwards. Today, the prevalence of social media and live streaming renders these events increasingly visible. In Shahid, Arabic for witness, artist Khalid Albaih invites visitors to reflect on their role as witnesses to the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Wadha Al Mesalam, courtesy of Qatar Museums ©2024
Wadha Al Mesalam, courtesy of Qatar Museums ©2024
Wadha Al Mesalam, courtesy of Qatar Museums ©2024
Through this installation, Albaih stresses the individual’s role as a witness by showing visitors they represent one more voice added to those speaking out for Palestine against biased mainstream media. This use of reflection – both literal and figurative – highlights the world’s complicity in this tragedy, which has exposed the prejudice and injustice of contemporary politics and international law.
This installation reflects on what it means to witness the destruction taking place in Palestine. Gaza has received the world's attention because social media and unbiased media exposed the ongoing massacres. This makes one wonder about the undocumented injustices and atrocities being committed in countries such as Sudan and other countries that are overlooked because of the lack of internet access and limited free media coverage.
Project Space is a platform for artistic and curatorial experiments through which Mathaf invites creative participants to experiment with various artistic expressions and new display methodologies. In combining digital drawings, sound elements, and an engaging installation design, Albaih has created an immersive experience that brings his practice as a cartoonist to a new direction.