“Intathirha” (Wait for her)’: Film Screening and Conversation with Artist Majd Abdel Hamid
We are excited to be taking part in Refugee Week, an annual festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees, from 15-21 June. “Refugee Week 2020 is a space for communities to connect and come together. It is an opportunity for all of us to grow our understanding of displacement, and stand with refugees.”
This year the theme is ‘Imagine.’ and we will be hosting a digital screening of the short film “Intathirha” (Wait for her),’ followed by a conversation with the artist Majd Abdel Hamid.
“speak to her as a Ney-flute would to a frightened violin string
as if both of you are witnessing what tomorrow holds for you
and wait for her
”
In “Intathirha (Wait for her)’’ a stateless person waits hopelessly for the return of electricity in a dilapidated building in Beirut. This short film by the Palestinian artist Majd Abdel Hamid will be screened by RUYA MAPS and followed by a conversation with the artist. Abdel Hamid uses a variety of media, including embroidery, installation and sculpture, as well as video, to negotiate themes of national identity and trauma.
The title of his film refers to a love poem by the well known Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish (1941–2008). A narrative voiceover recites lines from Darwish’s poem, re-applying his description of waiting for a lover to the many displaced people that Beirut has become home to. The suspension that characterises “Intathirha (Wait for her)’’ also strikes a chord with the Coronavirus pandemic which has led to an extended period of uncertainty and prolonged waiting.
You can watch the recording of this event here, and on RUYA MAPS’ Youtube channel.
About the artist:
Photo of the artist by Samar Hazboun
Majd Abdel Hamid (b. 1988, Damascus) splits his time between Ramallah and Beirut. He graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from Malmö Art Academy, Sweden in 2010, and attended the International Academy of Art, Palestine between 2007 and 2009.
His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions at Krognoshuset Lund, Sweden (2016), Valencia Institute of Modern Art, Spain (2018) and Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Palestine (2018). Abdel Hamid has participated in Mediterranea 16, Italy (2013) and the Kathmandu Triennale, Nepal (2017) as well as Qalandiya International, Palestine (2018). He was a finalist in the A M Qattan Foundation Young Artist of the Year Award in 2008, 2010 and 2012.