Today, walls are no longer just an abstract physical thing but have become an important part of shaping the spaces we live in. Individuals and governments compete to shape these spaces, through walls and other means. In recent years, walls have become a contested space, especially in countries suffering from ongoing instability. This research aims to understand the interaction of visual artistic expressions in the public sphere with the colonial contradictions in Palestine through a study of graffiti patterns and other writings on the walls in "the camp" and "the city" spaces. This is based on the fact that visual expressions such as graffiti form a cultural representation of the existing contradictions and dynamics of society, whether through the density of these writings, their contents, or through tracing the authorities’ response to these writings. For this reason, the research takes both Al-Amari camp and the city of Ramallah as a case study as two different spaces. Despite their existence within the same geographical borders, the borders that separate them as a camp and a city are clear and blunt, and within them are several social, political, and economic differences. Consequently, the relationship of the residents with these two spaces differs, and this is how the nature of the murals and graffiti differs.

Authors:
Munya Thaher, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar

About the Presenter(s)
Munya Thaher, a master's student in Conflict Managment and Humanitarian Action at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies

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