Artistic Curation: "Gaza – Mapping Spatial Justice through Counter Mapping"

This exhibition, curated by Hala Eid Alnaji, invites viewers into a profound exploration of Gaza as a fractured and besieged landscape shaped by conflict, isolation, and resilience. Hosted at the Form/Design Center in Malmö, Sweden, in 2021, the exhibition leverages counter-mapping techniques to provide a nuanced reading of Gaza's urban and socio-political conditions.

The central aim of the curation is to narrate Gaza's spatial story—one of layered complexities and unique urban fabric. Through the lens of "counter mapping," the exhibition transforms invisible injustices into visible narratives, focusing on how space, home, and community are redefined in the face of adversity. It dissects Gaza's spatial phenomena into five key mediums: Gaza Air Atmosphere ("The Occupied Sky"), Gaza Sea ("The Only Vent"), Gaza Tunnels ("The Weaponized Underground"), Gaza Borders ("The Suspended Boundaries"), and Spaces of Coexistence ("The Out of Sight Phenomena"). These themes collectively illuminate the harsh spatial realities of Gaza while envisioning hopeful futures for justice and coexistence.

Combining exhibition posters, thought-provoking imagery, and a curated statement, the exhibition bridges architectural history, theory, and lived experiences. It serves as both a method and a medium to provoke critical discourse on urban resilience and the societal implications of architecture. The curation not only highlights the dynamic interplay of human life with a war-torn urban fabric but also serves as a call for reimagining Gaza as a space of recovery and hope, where spatial justice can emerge. This artistic practice encapsulates a dialogue between destruction and resilience, invisibility and visibility, offering an architectural reflection on the socio-political landscapes of Gaza.