Mohammed Al-Hawajri and Dina Mattar at Al Jahili Fort, where Mattar's paintings are on show. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Al-Hawajri and Dina Mattar at Al Jahili Fort, where Mattar's paintings are on show. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Al-Hawajri and Dina Mattar at Al Jahili Fort, where Mattar's paintings are on show. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Al-Hawajri and Dina Mattar at Al Jahili Fort, where Mattar's paintings are on show. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi

After losing everything, Gaza family of artists find safety and inspiration in the UAE


Melissa Gronlund
  • English
  • Arabic

Just off Salaam Street, next door to Jerusalem Textiles, a bright painting covers one of Abu Dhabi’s concrete residential buildings. The mural echoes the natural world around it: the blue sky, palm trees, white animals and a yellow calligraphic frame in the centre.

Titled Peace with a Blue Horizon, it is a token of calm in what has been a horrific year for the work's maker, Mohammed Al-Hawajri, and his wife and four children.

The family lived in a three-storey house in Bureij, in central Gaza, where Al-Hawajri and his wife Dina Mattar were well-respected arts community members. But in October last year, their home was hit by an air strike, sending them on a journey of displacement and loss.

“My house is destroyed, my studio is destroyed, my artwork is destroyed, everything is destroyed,” Al-Hawajri tells The National. “In the beginning, I was very sad about this. But when I see the people die, I say, OK, maybe one day I can come to build my house again. Because the people who have been killed in this situation – my friends, my family, I have lost more than 50 people from my family – will still be dead.”

The family fled the house, taking nothing but their passports and essential papers. They moved to Al-Hawajri's sister’s home in Nuseirat, near Al Bureij camp, but there they were again caught in an air strike. Al-Hawajri recalls being unable to recognise his children or his wife because they were covered in dust. He only knew them by their voices.

Mohammed Al Hawajri's Peace with a Blue Horizon in Abu Dhabi. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Al Hawajri's Peace with a Blue Horizon in Abu Dhabi. Photo: DCT – Abu Dhabi

His children, though terrified, were safe. However, others, including his uncle, were not as lucky. Later, the area was bombed again and he lost his cousin, his cousin’s wife, their children and all nine of their grandchildren.

“After that I said to myself, I have to find a way to get out of Gaza because I cannot stay,” he says. "I am sure that we will die.”

Al-Hawajri and Mattar had already put a plan into motion. In February last year, Al-Hawajri sent several paintings to a friend in Egypt who sold them on his behalf, raising $40,000. The pair planned to use this money to leave Gaza. They moved again, this time to a small, one-room tent in Rafah, where they stayed for four months.

The remains of the house where the couple lived with their four children. It was destroyed by Israeli air strikes. Photo: Mohammed Al-Hawajri
The remains of the house where the couple lived with their four children. It was destroyed by Israeli air strikes. Photo: Mohammed Al-Hawajri

While they prepared to leave, they returned once more to their home in Bureij to see what was left. In footage documented by their oldest son Ahmed, they venture into the studio. There, with Mattar, they roll up the canvases in what had been their bright, blue-walled family room. The colour of this room is the same as the blue in his Abu Dhabi mural. They took as many artworks as they could – all they had left of their former life – and managed to bring them through the checkpoint leaving Palestine.

Mattar and the children stayed in Cairo for five months, while Al-Hawajri travelled to the UAE, as he already had a Golden Visa in recognition of his artistic talent. Despite the difficulties of travel from Gaza, Al-Hawajri frequently held shows internationally before the war.

In the last Documenta exhibition in Kassel in 2022, his digital collage series Guernica–Gaza chronicled the horrors of life in the Gaza Strip between 2010 and 2013. The work sparked a backlash in the German press for the perceived comparison between Israelis and the Nazi perpetrators of the Guernica massacre.

Mohammed Al-Hawajri and his younger son Mahmoud in Rafah, rolling the canvases they secured from their home and studio. Photo: Mohammed Al-Hawajri
Mohammed Al-Hawajri and his younger son Mahmoud in Rafah, rolling the canvases they secured from their home and studio. Photo: Mohammed Al-Hawajri

The family has now settled in Sharjah, and both artists are venturing into the UAE art scene. Al-Hawajri has known Reem Fadda, the curator of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, since she began working in Palestine 25 years ago, he says, and she asked him to contribute to its debut edition.

His mural was inspired by a trip to the House of Artisans. “Some women were making a carpet, and it made me remember my culture in Palestine," he recalls. "The design has the palm tree that exists here, as well as animals that I usually use. I wrote in the middle one word in Arabic: ‘Peace’. This is what we have lost in Palestine.”

Mattar was invited to Abu Dhabi Art’s public commissions programme, with a suite of paintings that is currently on show in Al Ain. One of the acrylics, We Defend Our Gazelles, portrays women in dresses adorned with traditional Palestinian tatreez, one holding a bouquet and another allowing a ginger-striped cat to lounge sleepily across her arm. The work draws on the symbolism of Kebd al-Ghazal, a type of plant found across Palestine, which is pictured in the image under the care of the women.

Dina Mattar's new paintings are on view at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain as part of Abu Dhabi Art. Photo: Abu Dhabi Art
Dina Mattar's new paintings are on view at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain as part of Abu Dhabi Art. Photo: Abu Dhabi Art

Their son Ahmed has edited a video from the footage he took of his family’s displacement, the destruction of their home, the move south to Rafah and their living conditions in the tent. The eldest daughter is also an artist, and the family will soon be participating together in further art events in the UAE.

“We feel lucky as a family because we got out from a bad situation and we started a new life here,” says Al-Hawajri. “This is a great country. All these people from different cultures, from different religions, from different places in the world are living in one place, together, without any problems and without any violence.”

Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is running until April 30 and Abu Dhabi Art Public Commissions are at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain until January 24

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Always use only regulated platforms

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Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m

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20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m

RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Monday's results
  • UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
  • Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
  • Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Uefa Nations League: How it Works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  9. Peshawar, Pakistan
  10. Bagpat, India
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated

Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

Other promotions
  • Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
  • Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
  • Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications) 
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Updated: December 18, 2024, 3:02 AM`