Visual arts and creative direct action in Palestine: exploring artistic resistance and sumud on the separation wall

This study is an exploratory study of visual arts on the Separation Wall, as a non-violent form of resistance in the context of the Occupation of Palestine. The study treats the visual arts of resistance as an example of creative rights claims by and about Palestinian self-determination. Although the main focus of this study is on the period since the Second Intifada (2000-2003), this is placed in its historical context of the history of political art in Palestine. The key contemporary Palestinian and international artists whose work is considered include Steve Sabella, Majed Abdel Hamid, J.R. and Marco among others. Interviews were conducted with most of the artists whose work was analysed. To analyse the visual images, compositional, visual and contextual analysis were combined. One key debate has been the controversial uses (and abuses) of the Separation Wall itself, as a contested public space. The tension between de-territorialised Palestinians and the re-territorialised territory is another theme that arises. Finally, visual arts on the Wall can no longer be considered as art of exclusively Palestinian resistance, it is unavoidably mediated through efforts to obtain international attention for the Palestinian cause.