DUBAI - "Documentary Drawing of the Kafr Qasem Massacre," is a solo exhibition by a Palestinian New York-based artist Samia Halaby that is being held in Ayyam Gallery Dubai at Alserkal Avenue. The exhibition, which was launched during the first day of Dubai's Art Week, initiated by Art Dubai Group and supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority ‘Dubai Culture' and Meraas, is the region's largest cultural festival taking place every year between March and April 27. Halaby is showcasing the story of 49 Palestinians who were murdered by Israeli border guards in 1956 in Kafr Qasem. The paintings, mostly in black, grey, and white, depict the tragedy that those victims and their families faced. Since most of the artist's paintings are based on series of experiments and investigations to transfer reality into art, she spent more than a decade doing research and interviews, and collecting pictures and information as references on the catastrophic massacre. Halaby, before starting on this collection, interviewed some of the survivors as well as family members of victims in the village of Kafr Qasem. Alserkal Avenue is also showcasing another line of Halaby's artwork titled "Illuminated Space." In this solo exhibition that will remain open until mid-June, she presents a series of bright and colorful paintings. The art pieces showcase the artist experimenting with abstract themes.
