Lawrence Abu Hamdan's Zifzafa at Barakat Contemporary critiques wind turbines as tools of displacement in Golan Heights
Lawrence Abu Hamdan presents his inaugural solo exhibition in South Korea, titled Zifzafa, at Barakat Contemporary in Seoul, running until 3 November 2024. The exhibition delves into the sinister aspects of wind energy, centering on Israel's initiative to install 31 wind turbines on Jawlani Syrian territory in the Golan Heights, which has been under occupation since 1967. Abu Hamdan interprets the sound produced by the project as a tool for ethnic cleansing. Featured works include Wind Ensemble (2024), Haze (2024), and Tilting at Windmills (2024). The centerpiece, Zifzafa: a video-game essay (2024), offers an interactive map that presents eight stories of resistance. The exhibition juxtaposes Israeli green energy promotion with Jawlani aspirations for self-determination, with the Arabic title signifying 'a wind that rattles and shakes all in its path.'
Key facts
- Zifzafa is Lawrence Abu Hamdan's first solo show in South Korea
- The exhibition runs until 3 November 2024 at Barakat Contemporary in Seoul
- It critiques Israel's plan to build 31 wind turbines in the Golan Heights, occupied since 1967
- Key works include Wind Ensemble (2024), Haze (2024), and Tilting at Windmills (2024)
- Zifzafa: a video-game essay (2024) is an interactive 45-minute virtual map with soundbites from Busher Kanj Saleh
- The Jawlani Syrians have resisted by erecting more kookhs (traditional shelters) since 2019
- Saxophonist Amr Mdah performs in Wind Ensemble from a kookh balcony
- The exhibition highlights wind turbine noise as a tool for displacing the Jawlani community
Entities
Artists
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan
- Amr Mdah
- Busher Kanj Saleh
Institutions
- Barakat Contemporary
- Canvas
Locations
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Golan Heights
- Israel
- Syria