Mahdi's Artist Residency in Beirut

About Me

My name is Mahdi, and I’m a Palestinian artist.  I live in Ramallah with my family but I am originally from a city called I “Al-led” which was expelled by the Israeli occupation in 1948.  I just graduated with a B.A. from the International Academy of Art where I studied Contemporary Visual Art.   I also have a diploma from the Palestinian Institute in Ramallah in documentary filming (2010).

My work

During my studies I explored many different themes, including what the body means in my society and the image of the Arab man globally in a post colonial world.  In several of my works I used my own body to interrupt, manipulate and create new situations as a way to probe and reveal the stereotypes created through these images. 

My most recent work, some of which was shown in my graduation exhibition, has engaged with the construction of masculinity in popular, national and religious culture.  I used a variety of mediums including video art, performance and installation.  One of my interests is in creating alternative imagery, which reveals more vulnerable and intimate facets of male identity which highlights a diversity of masculinityoutside the dominant imagery.

Your Help

I have been accepted to Ashkal Alwan’s ‘home workprogram’ – a prestigious, year-long residency based in Beirut.  The program allows artists and other cultural practitioners to develop their skills in a multidisciplinary, discursive setting.  For a newly graduated artist like myself, it presents an amazing opportunity to focus on and develop my art.  Moreover, it offers me the opportunity to be exposed toideas,other artists, and collaboration in a different context.  As a Palestinian artist living in the West Bank, overcoming the isolation imposed by the Israeli occupation in this way is vital. Beirut in particular in an important place for me to be, due to it’s political, cultural, and historical significance in the Arab and Palestinian *collective consciousness*. 

Ashkal Alwan has offered me a partial scholarship to take part in the program which will cover most of my living costs in Beirut.  The visa I will receive through the program, though, does not allow me to work, so I will have no way to raise the additional funds myself while I am there.

I am asking for your help to cover the rest of my living costs.

Break down of costs:

Cost of living in Beirut per month = $1000

Scholarship amount per month = $800

Amount needed per month = $200

Total needed = $200 x 11 = $2200






Note: I am not in Ithaca, NY. I am in Ramallah. This was put together by a friend in Ithaca because gofundme makes things v difficult for folks not in the US!