Hazem Harb (b. 1980, Gaza, Palestine; lives and works in Dubai)
The Labyrinth (2021)

The Labyrinth is an immersive installation built around a 1920 black-and-white photograph of Jerusalem. This historic cityscape shows a diverse architectural identity: Arabic and Ottoman architectures overlap. Domes of mosques, synagogues and church towers line the narrow alleyways placed in front of a peaceful, landscaped valley. A sculptural labyrinth placed in front of the image interrupts any direct view, forcing the viewer to move, shift and confront the impossibility of a single perspective on the city.

Knowing that his place of origin can never be just a “land,” Hazem Harb (b. 1980, Gaza, Palestine; lives and works in Dubai) deploys an evolving repertoire of artistic techniques to negotiate a space that has been carved up and redrawn many times. His work is rooted in locality, fueled by personal insight, and entangled in global conversations. Operating as a researcher, Harb collects and synthesizes archives of rare ephemera, including photographs, negatives, and maps, forming layered collages that invite historical rethinking and previously unheard discourses.

Select solo exhibitions include Maraya Art Centre, UAE (2021); Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE (2015); Al Qattan Foundation, London, UK (2010); French Cultural Centre, Gaza, Palestine (2004), and others. Select group exhibitions include Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (2020–21); SeMA, Seoul Museum of Art, Korea (2019–20); Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE (2018); and The Oriental Museum, Durham University, UK (2013). His works are held in collections including LACMA, Los Angeles; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE; and The British Museum, London, UK, among others.

Tabari Artspace (est. 2003) is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to championing artists from across the MENA region. With a long-standing commitment to discovery, critical dialogue, and alternative perspectives, the gallery has grown into an international platform supporting both emerging and established voices.