The Road to Jerusalem 2011
I attempt to cycle from Ramallah to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, my journey is interrupted by a nine metre high concrete wall. The bike is cut, flipped and welded back together.
The Israeli-Palestine separation barrier is a 700 kilometre concrete wall which divides the Palestinian territories from the rest of Israel. In the town of Bir Naballa, this wall was built directly across the road - like a prop in a slapstick comedy. This made it impossible for some families to meet, and turned a busy town into a wasteland.
This work explores the subject position of an English tourist in the turmoil of the West Bank. Enjoying his privilege of unrestricted movement, he is idiotically unconscious of the apartheid that divides this militarised state.
Media : Adapted bicycle, digital video, transcript of a conversation with Israeli border police
Exhibitions : Al Mahatta (Ramallah), The Art Foundation (Athens)
The Israeli-Palestine separation barrier is a 700 kilometre concrete wall which divides the Palestinian territories from the rest of Israel. In the town of Bir Naballa, this wall was built directly across the road - like a prop in a slapstick comedy. This made it impossible for some families to meet, and turned a busy town into a wasteland.
This work explores the subject position of an English tourist in the turmoil of the West Bank. Enjoying his privilege of unrestricted movement, he is idiotically unconscious of the apartheid that divides this militarised state.
Media : Adapted bicycle, digital video, transcript of a conversation with Israeli border police
Exhibitions : Al Mahatta (Ramallah), The Art Foundation (Athens)