In Memory Of...
In Memory Of is a visual and memorial archive that explores the practice of commemorating martyrs in Palestine. It captures the fragile yet enduring tradition of hanging posters of fallen martyrs on walls, shop doors, and streets. They are not only markers of individual loss; they collectively testify to a history of resilience and remembrance. As the years pass, the faces of martyrs remain present in these spaces, serving as a powerful refusal to forget.
Posters from the first intifada till our present day can be found, layered atop and aside one another. This layering creates a dynamic narrative—a memorial of liberation where each new image merges with the past, connecting historical struggles with present realities. It challenges our understanding of an archive itself; rather than a neatly catalogued history, these memorials are fluid, constantly changing, blurred, and redefined.
This project seeks to document and interpret these posters as a living history—an evolving, "archive of the future" that speaks to a longing for liberation. I want to challenge the traditional notion of archiving, because memory in Palestine is not a static record but a living and transformative force. This project raises questions about how we remember, who is memorialised, and what it means to maintain a collective memory amidst ongoing Oppression and Occupation. What role does memory play in sustaining a community’s resilience? How can this project challenge traditional archival methods to better honour memory in spaces of trauma and resistance? Furthermore, how can we expose and challenge silences, absences, and erasures in history, especially when the material aspects of memory (the posters) are gradually worn away by time?
This work engages viewers in a dialogue about how historical trauma can transform into a powerful narrative of resilience. It reminds us that, even when images are hidden beneath newer layers, the stories are not erased but carried forward and changed—etched into the land and the spirit of our people.
In Memory Of is about more than preserving history; it is a challenge to the narratives that often obscure or simplify the Palestinian experience. This project navigates the intersections between the past, present, and future. The act of looking at a poster is itself a form of "re-remembrance"—a present-day experience that triggers memories, while simultaneously sparking a hope for the future. The act of hanging a poster is a transitional moment from the present to the future, a movement that seeks to overcome the painful past by imagining what a liberated Palestine might look like.
As a Palestinian, I am not just documenting this narrative—I am the narrative. The stories captured in these martyr posters are my own, intertwined with my past, present, and hopes for the future. This project is deeply personal, as it speaks to my lived reality and the resilience of my people.
I approach this project with the awareness that I’m not just an artist or a documentarian—I’m a participant in the narrative, contributing to a collective effort to preserve our memory, our resistance, and our aspirations for a liberated Palestine. This is not just a visual archive for me; it's an emotional and political commitment to keeping the stories of my people alive, challenging the forces that seek to erase them, and contributing to a future where our voices are no longer silenced but voices that ignite resilience.