General

Abdullah al-Rozzi: Art under Occupation from Gaza


Abdullah al-Rozzi

by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik e.V. – Some time ago we have presented the art works by Abdullah al-Rozzi as art under occupation, as an art coming from suffering, from the uterus of suffering. We are convinced that art under occupation is a sublime art we have to respect and to admire. And Abdullah al-Rozzi is an example of this kind of art. We thank him a lot for having answered our questions. We hope that Gaza will be free soon, and that all artists from Gaza will see new horizons for their art, beyond the terrible reality of Zionist colonialism. 
Milena Rampoldi: What does Palestinian art mean to you? 
Abdullah al-Rozzi: Palestinian
art is tantamount to the identity, heritage, and culture of Palestinians and
has become a means of defence for an indigenous but powerless people
desperately endeavouring to hold on to their land, their traditions, and their
values. Art can transcend the barriers of silence and the artist’s imagination
allows for the expression of ideas and opinions that go beyond accepted
standards and political correctness.

MR: How
important is it to express Palestinian suffering in art?
AR: We
Palestinians — continuously and brutally
occupied,
blockaded, persecuted, robbed, imprisoned, tortured, and murdered — lack any
kind of military or other recourse for the defence of our existence as a
people, and consequently have no alternative other than to resort to the
strength of our culture and art in order to express our aspirations for freedom
and justice. Such cultural arts are promoted through artistic activities and
national events with the support and involvement of Palestinians from many
walks of life including prisoners and refugees.

MR: You say
that the art comes from the uterus of suffering. Please explain this to our
readers.
AR: Despite
the odds against them, including the injustice and pressures of military
occupation; the ever present threat of house raids, arrest, torture, and
imprisonment; the periodic military invasions with unrelenting bombardments
that cause death and destruction; and the toleration of Israel’s crimes against
humanity by the rest of the world, Palestinian artists nonetheless manage to
find the materials, the space, and the time to produce expressive works of art.

MR: What does
occupation mean for the Palestinian artists? Which are the hardest aspects of
Zionist occupation?
AR: The
nightmare of occupation with its persistent persecution serves not only to undermine
the hopes and dreams of Palestinian artists, but also precludes all sense of
normality by denying the right to free of movement, freedom of speech, freedom
to work, freedom to rebuild a shattered infrastructure, and freedom to worship.
Such denial of human rights are illegally enforced by abusive and demeaning
military checkpoints, Apartheid fences and walls with watchtowers that
appropriate Palestinian land and divide Palestinian families, and the
deliberate Israeli displacement of Palestinian families.

MR: How can
artists express political ideas?
AR: Palestinian
artists — who like like other people — aspire to express the humanity and
justice of their communities, are prevented from doing so because of the
restrictions imposed by the occupation and its political ramifications. Their
freedom of expression is restricted by the threat of possible loss of freedom
or even life.

MR: For me
art is a universal language to promote peace. What do you think about it?
AR: It is hoped that such expressive art will help to build bridges
between different peoples and improve the chances for world peace and security.