In a refugee camp far from the sea, Palestinian artist Alaa Albaba paints fish that dream of home
Wandering the narrow alleyways of Al Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah, you might not expect to find a surrealist art gallery. But this is where acclaimed Palestinian artist Alaa Albaba has his studio. His subject is the fish, an unlikely motif for an artist working within a dusty refugee camp in the West Bank. The only sea here is the Dead Sea , where no fish can survive. “My story begins when I…
In the Al Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah, Palestinian artist Alaa Albaba paints fish that dream of a home they can no longer reach. Despite the camp's lack of sea, Albaba's artwork captures the longing for the Mediterranean coast, where his ancestors once lived. With oil-painted canvases stacked in boxes, Albaba's studio is a surreal gallery showcasing his unique vision of the future for his people.
Born and raised in the camp, Albaba's work explores themes of displacement, uncertainty, and the potential for a better future. Rather than focusing on traditional Palestinian symbols, Albaba imagines fish as a metaphor for the refugee experience, highlighting the tension between the harsh reality of camp life and the hope for a better tomorrow.
His murals, known as "The Route of the Fish," extend beyond the camp's walls, spreading the message of Palestinian exile across the West Bank. Albaba's art serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for a Palestinian state and the right of return, even as the murals themselves become a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Palestinian people.
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