TALES FROM THE FIRST FLOOR: HAMADA ELKEPT

Under Surveillance, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
140 x 170 cm

In Gaza, oppression through constant surveillance is a way of life. The artist of this work, Hamada Elkept, grew up and lived in Gaza for 28 years. He draws deeply from personal experience, to portray the psychological toll of living under daily occupation. He captures the reality of occupiers’ planes, drones, closely following civilians and residents living under strict and round the clock surveillance. This machinery has not only monitored, they don’t just watch- they have become instruments of violence, killing civilians in homes, streets, gardens, beaches, even hospitals, reducing life to a gamified control of violence, all determined by a button or remote.

For Gazans the droning sound of aircraft and drones has become part of their soundscape – a reminder of the ever-present hovering above. Hamada’s work reflects the forced displacement Palestinians continuously endure under the occupation, evoking the fear and suffering that accompanies every move.

Through symbolic, almost surreal imagery, the artwork invites viewers to question the impact of technology-driven oppression. Urging us to see beyond the surface and recognize the humans’ stories of loss, resilience, and resistance in the face of relentless occupation.

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