we refuse_d

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Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara

© the artist — photo: Ali Al-Anssari, courtesy of Qatar Museums ©2025

Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara was a self-taught artist whose work vividly chronicled the collective memory and struggles of the Palestinian people. The trauma of the Nakba – the Arabic word for ‘catastrophe’, referring to the expulsion of a large part of the Palestinian population during the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948 – shaped his lifelong commitment to preserving Palestinian culture through his artistic practice. After relocating multiple times due to political upheavals, Zarara settled in Libya, where his artistic career began.

Using an innovative technique of sawdust and glue to create painted reliefs, he developed a unique visual language centred on themes of resistance and identity. His work merged personal memory with national history, often featuring freedom fighters, revolutionary slogans and symbolic landscapes.His practice extended beyond Palestine, portraying global liberation movements in Ireland, Latin America and South Africa. He is the only non-living artist featured in we refuse_d. His work is presented posthumously in homage to his legacy, his commitment to art and life, and serves as a powerful testament to resilience, memory and the enduring struggle for justice.

we refuse_d is produced by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, on the occasion of their 15th anniversary, and presented in partnership with M HKA.
Curated by Nadia Radwan and Vasıf Kortun.

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