The four paintings presented by Abdul Hay Mosallam Zarara (b. 1933 in Dawaymeh; d. 2020 in Amman) speak to the artist’s commitment to anti-imperialist struggle and the solidarities across its various movements. They reflect on the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, American interventions in Chile and in Central America, as well as the importance of approaching the fight for women’s freedom within a global context. Underscoring ties between his paintings and that of international writers, the works integrate words by poet Pablo Nerudo’s Los Enemigos (The Enemies) and Samora Machel’s opening speech at the First Conference of Mozambican Women in March 1973, two years before Machel became Mozambique’s first President. The artist’s characteristically bold style and use of humble materials (sawdust, glue, and acrylic paint) convey his desire to cultivate a broad audience for his work, which at its core fought to raise awareness for the liberation of Palestine and the preservation of its cultural traditions and history.
