Hazem Harb (b. 1980, Gaza, Palestine; lives and works in Dubai, UAE)
Knowing that his place of origin can never be just a "land," Harb deploys an evolving repertoire of artistic techniques to negotiate a space that has been carved up and redrawn many times. His work is rooted in locality, fueled by personal insight, and entangled in global conversations. Operating as a researcher, Harb collects and synthesizes archives of rare ephemera, including photographs, negatives, and maps, which he mediates in a way that dismantles them from a static space, forming layered collages that invite historical rethinking and previously unheard discourses.
Select solo exhibitions include Maraya Art Centre, UAE (2021); Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE (2015); Al Qattan Foundation, London, UK (2010); French Cultural Centre, Gaza, Palestine (2004), and others. Select group exhibitions include Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (2020–21); SeMA, Seoul Museum of Art, Korea (2019–20); Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE (2018); and The Oriental Museum, Durham University, UK (2013). His works are held in collections including LACMA, Los Angeles; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE; and The British Museum, London, UK, among others.
The Labyrinth (2021)
Installation, dimensions variable
The Labyrinth is an immersive installation built around a 1920 black-and-white photograph of Jerusalem. This historic cityscape shows a diverse architectural identity: Arabic, Ottoman and Christian architectures overlap. Domes of mosques and church towers line the narrow alleyways placed in front of a peaceful, landscaped value. A sculptural labyrinth interrupts any direct view, forcing the viewer to move, shift and confront the impossibility of a single perspective on the city.