'Stepping away from the role of offering hope to others': How Israel's history of violence stole Palestinian artist Malak Mattar's joy for colour

Malak Mattar, a Palestinian artist from Gaza, uses her art to express the violence and trauma her family and community have endured since the Nakba of 1948.

A self-taught artist, Malak began painting at the age of 14 during the 51-day military assault on Gaza in 2014, using basic school supplies.

Her distinctive style, which features expressive faces and semi-abstract designs, quickly gained international recognition.

She has exhibited her work in Costa Rica, France, Great Britain, India, Palestine, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.

In 2018, Malak received Gaza’s top academic scholarship, ranking second in her year group across Palestine. This accomplishment allowed her to study abroad, and she graduated with a BSc in Political Science from Istanbul Aydin University in 2022.

Her artwork graced the cover of GQ Middle East in October 2021, and she also published Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story (2022), a children’s book inspired by her own life.

Malak also recently completed an artist residency in London with An Effort, a non-profit that supports women artists from the Arab region — and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at Central Saint Martins in London.

During her residency, she concentrated on documenting the reality of life in Gaza. Some of her paintings powerfully depict the harsh realities of war, including scenes of deceased women and children, as well as abandoned premature babies.

One of her notable works, May the Birds Who Have Eaten Our Flesh Crash in Your Window, was created in charcoal on paper. It shows a flock of birds flying against a dark sky, inspired by children’s accounts of birds pecking at dead bodies.

Documenting Palestine's tragedies 

In 2024, Malak used her art to raise awareness about the ongoing violence against Palestinians, showcasing her work in several exhibitions to further this cause.

Three months ago, Malak had a solo exhibition called The Horse Fell off the Poem at the Feruzzi Gallery in Venice, running from April 16 to June 14.

The exhibition was inspired by a poem by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, which contrasts nature and love with war. This contrast reflects Darwish’s struggle to balance universal human themes with his personal experiences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The solo exhibition, curated by the director of Abu Dhabi Art Dyala Nusseibeh, coincided with the 60th Venice Biennale, which faced controversy due to Israel’s participation.

Although not officially part of the Biennale, Malak’s exhibition offered a powerful commentary on Israel's violence, deeply resonating with viewers.

Following Venice, Malak’s Screams exhibition opened in Scotland from June 7 to June 28.

This show featured over 100 new drawings and paintings in response to the ongoing violence in Gaza.

It included both new monochromatic works and earlier colourful pieces, offering a glimpse of hope for Palestine’s future.

The exhibition was part of the Edinburgh leg of the Falastin Film Festival (FFF), first at the Embassy and later at the In Vitro Gallery at Summerhall.

Among her notable recent works in this exhibition is No Words, a large painting completed between January and February 2024

This powerful artwork shows the devastation of Israel's war on Gaza where more than 40,000 people have been killed. 

The painting depicts the widespread loss of life, the suffering of animals, the destruction of historical sites, and the forced displacement of Palestinian communities.

Drawing from both personal experience and media coverage, it captures the trauma of witnessing her homeland's destruction and the constant fear for her family's safety.

"The piece captures the devastation inflicted on human lives, animals, archaeological sites, and historical buildings, along with the profound impact of forced displacement, which has torn apart Palestinian society for generations," Malak tells The New Arab about her piece in an exclusive interview.

She explained that the creation of this monumental work involved using witness testimonies, images from family and friends, the press, and social media, and that it was completed in about a month, following weeks of meticulous planning, sketching, and preparation.

Malak shared her struggle with the trauma of seeing her home destroyed from afar and the anxiety for her family still in central Gaza.

“Filled with personal stories and familiar motifs from my childhood under occupation, this work reflects both the major human tragedy of this century and my own emotions,” she noted.

Shifting from colour to monochrome 

Malak's artistic journey shows her strength and resilience, highlighted by her vibrant and colourful work even during crises.

This vibrancy was particularly evident in her 2021 series You and I, created amidst the Israeli assault on Gaza.

However, her recent work has shifted dramatically to a black-and-white palette. This change reflects a deep sense of loss and grief, signalling a significant shift in her artistic focus.

As she puts it, “I am stepping away from the role of offering hope to others.”

The use of monochrome also resonates with colonial-era photographs of Palestine, providing both a deeply personal reflection on her experiences and a broader historical perspective.

Malak hopes her art will inspire viewers to take action against Israel's war crimes.

“I hope my work can provoke an action from the viewer to fight against injustice, whether through protest, supporting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, or other forms of activism,” she says. 

Concluding the interview, Malak remarks that her work has been met with considerable warmth. “I have received solidarity and support, which has led to important discussions,” she tells The New Arab.

In her ongoing and future projects, Malak will continue to document and share the realities faced by Palestinians, showcasing their stories and struggles while serving as a powerful reminder of their experiences and the urgent need for justice and peace.

Currently, Malak is preparing for a solo exhibition in London this fall.

Zainab Mehdi is The New Arab's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region

Follow her on X: @zaiamehdi