From That Land, Taqi Spateen

Exhibition

Thursdays - Saturdays 10am - 3pm

‘From That Land’ is not merely the title of an exhibition, nor is it a simple answer to a geographical question. It is a condensed essence —a title for an unfolding narrative that branches into millions of stories about what takes place on that land, and what it truly means in the hearts and minds of its people.

It is an absolute declaration of total alignment and belonging to every moment, every pain, every act of resilience, and every minute detail embedded in that geography. To explain this land requires a long, unraveling conversation; its stones, its soil, its dignity, and its enduring collective pain are far too vast to be confined to narrow definitions or a single word.

‘From That Land’ is the distillation of the entire story—of the primal womb that shaped our consciousness, and the voice that carries the truth of what happens there, wherever one may go. Within this visual space, colors and lines become the medium to open that endless dialogue, documenting a living presence that steadfastly refuses erasure and oblivion.

Palestinian artist and activist Taqi Spateen was an artist in residence for Site Festival 2024 as part of a tour with Bethlehem Cultural Festival. He produced two graffiti pieces at the Brunel Goods Shed and the Picturedrome in Gloucester.

More about Taqi Spateen

Taqi Spateen has created many murals on the wall including The Boy with the Goldfish Bowl, showing a child with what is left after the destruction of his childhood home, a series of portraits of George Floyd, and his collaboration with the brand The North Face, Walls Are Meant For Climbing . Now creating and exhibiting internationally, Spateen draws inspiration from the Palestinian countryside, particularly the olive tree, one of the most famous of all Palestinian symbols. His more recent paintings also include depictions of mass urbanisation and colonial settlements on his precious homeland.

Spateen started to paint in the second grade. By the time he concluded his secondary education, he began to carry out a number of commissions and murals on school walls and other public spaces. This led to him apply to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at the IAA in Ramallah. On completion of his studies, he competed against renowned international contractors and successfully won an architectural tender to renovate a former palace.

Landscape paintings are where he thrives most, and his realist style makes him stand out as a remarkable young talent. As a deeply spiritual person, he draws inspiration from the sanctity and blessedness of the Palestinian countryside - given its special place in the Holy Scriptures. The olive tree - the most famous of Palestinian symbols - features in nearly all of his recent paintings. Yet, Spateen’s more recent paintings also include depictions of mass urbanization, colonial settlements and imposing structures on this precious terrain.

See more:

https://taqispateen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/taqi_spateen/