Dana Awartani’s Delicate Restoration Efforts in Gaza

Bristol’s Arnolfini Reasserts Commitment to Expression with Dana Awartani’s Exhibition

Amidst controversy in 2023, Bristol’s Arnolfini canceled events associated with the Bristol Palestine Film Festival, sparking a boycott and mediation efforts. As a result, Arnolfini pledged to safeguard Palestinian freedom of expression. Demonstrating this commitment, the institute features “Standing by the Ruins,” an exhibition by Palestinian-Saudi artist Dana Awartani.

Awartani addresses the cultural loss in regions afflicted by war and censorship, utilizing art as a means of repair. Her work “Come, let me heal your wounds. Let me mend your broken bones” (2024) depicts architectural destruction through intricately stitched fabric, symbolizing resilience against violent erasure.

In “I Went Away and Forgot You…” (2017), Awartani uses sand to recreate, then erase, traditional patterns, critiquing cultural modernization’s impact mirroring war’s devastation. Her new commission, “Standing by the Ruins” (2025), commemorates Gaza’s Hamam al-Sammara, a structure possibly destroyed in conflict.

Awartani’s exhibition, available at Arnolfini through September 28, embodies a call for remembrance amidst destruction, curated by Gemma Brace.