Lawrence Abu Hamdan's 'Zifzafa' Makes UK Debut at The Common Guild, Glasgow
In Glasgow, The Common Guild is hosting a solo exhibition by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, showcasing 'Zifzafa' (2024) for the first time in the UK, in collaboration with the Edinburgh Art Festival. This event follows his presentation of 'Live Audio Essays' during the 2024 Glasgow International Festival. Abu Hamdan, known for his work as a sound investigator and founder of Earshot.ngo, delves into issues of noise pollution and green colonialism in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The exhibition includes 'Zifzafa: Livestream Audio Essay' (2025), a video game that simulates the effects of proposed wind turbines on local inhabitants. A live performance featuring Busher Kanj Abu Saleh and Amr Mdah is set for 29 August 2026 at Leith Theatre, with tickets available at edinburghartfestival.com.
Key facts
- The Common Guild presents Lawrence Abu Hamdan's solo exhibition 'Zifzafa' in the UK for the first time, in collaboration with Edinburgh Art Festival
- 'Zifzafa' (2024) comprises a multichannel audiovisual installation, a performance and a video game
- The project contests the proposed construction of 31 of the world's largest land-based wind turbines in the Golan Heights
- Each 256-metres-tall turbine is anticipated to generate between 70–90dB of noise, with some planned as close as 35 meters to homes
- The Jawlan population have faced expropriation and dispossession since 1967
- 'Zifzafa: Livestream Audio Essay' (2025) was developed over two years within the Golan Heights community
- 'Wind Ensemble' (2024) features Jawlani musician Amr Mdah performing on a farmhouse balcony 50 metres from a proposed turbine site
- A live performance of 'Zifzafa' takes place Saturday 29 August at Leith Theatre during EAF26's closing weekend (14–30 August 2026)
Entities
Artists
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan
- Busher Kanj Abu Saleh
- Amr Mdah
- Fabio Cervi
- Miguel de Cervantes
Institutions
- The Common Guild
- Edinburgh Art Festival
- Earshot.ngo
- Al Marsad
- Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art
- Leith Theatre
- Earshot
Locations
- Glasgow
- United Kingdom
- Golan Heights
- Syria
- Israel
- Germany
- Edinburgh
- UK
- Jawlan