Mustafa Sabbagh's 'XI comandamento: non dimenticare' at ZAC Palermo

The ZAC in Palermo presents 'XI comandamento: non dimenticare', a solo exhibition by Mustafa Sabbagh (born 1961 in Amman), running until July 17, 2016. The show is a collaboration between Palermo's Assessorato alla Cultura, Galleria Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea, and Rizzuto Gallery. Sabbagh, an Italian-Palestinian photographer, describes the space as a container of contemporary schizophrenia, accumulating fears, vices, virtues, and discomforts. He feels a deep empathy with Sicily, a land of unresolved contradictions and a Mediterranean crossroads. The exhibition challenges clichés, featuring archetypal images such as elegant fetish madames, martyrs in blue jeans, and wingless putti. 'Onore al Nero' celebrates the uncelebratable—darkness, impurity, and contamination—while 'Candido' presents an innocent child akin to Caravaggio's Mario Minniti, but with blood replacing wine. 'Made in Italy© – Handle with care', premiered in Palermo and acquired by MAXXI's permanent collection, critiques the migrant crisis and societal indifference. Sabbagh uses irony to denounce the schizophrenia of the current historical moment.