Ala’ Hamameh
In his “Suitcase Memory” series, Hamameh addresses the situation of those forced to flee their homes and homeland during Syria’s brutal ongoing civil war, leaving with only what they could fit into their luggage. Hamameh himself is one of them, now living in Germany. In the auction catalogue, Hamameh explains that the vivid colors of his paintings are used not in a bright, optimistic way, but to hint at the violence of war. Hamameh has felt since his childhood that intense color can be overwhelming.
‘Drifting Destinies’
Houda Terjuman
Terjuman’s symbolism-heavy surrealist works tackle issues including displacement and identity. “She uses common items and natural elements … and then juxtaposes them against a particular setting,” the catalogue explains. Given Terjuman’s own background, the themes of her work are no surprise. “The history of my practice is overwhelmingly informed by my status as a hybrid migrant,” she explains. “My father is