Woman 6 Painting

I think that all art work is political By Fahed Halabi Born on the occupied Golan Heights - "Israel" my work reflects the socio-political context in which I was born as an Arab-Syrian artist. As a person who has lived his whole life between two worlds, the question of identity is the principal question with which I deal. My personal reality confronts daily with dilemmas of identity. On one hand the Arab, Eastern culture in which I was born and grew up and on the other, the western culture to which I was exposed in the last years. Living on this boarder, is a tiring and exhausting position, however on the other hand it is a challenging and inquisitive situation which often exposes me to new questions and challenges. Through dealing with question of identity I try to examine the dimensions of the conflict between these two cultures. This conflict is expressed in various forms; Political, economical and social. On the social level I deal with the sexual and gendered dimension, in the relation between the cultures. This sexual dimension could reflect, in a sensitive and honest way, the small, hidden and important cultural nuance existing all at the same time. Art for me is not a game, it is part of my reality and my life, as it reflects reality in a sophisticated, sensitive and esthetic way. However talent is the degree of the ability to express what occupies my thoughts, feelings and mind. In my work I often apply either black humor or stinging irony which is amusing and sad at the same time. My principal medium is painting and video art however in my work I am not loyal to neither one style or one technique, therefor I always try to check-out other styles, techniques and mediums. Indeed there is always either a hidden or a manifested connecting line between my work. The crossing between the different mediums and techniques, resembles my own crossing between the various physical worlds in which I live. There is always a position of interrogation and search, a position of uncertainty. Furthermore, I am concerned by other issues related to questions of identity- such as the issue of religion and the status of women within the religion. Question related to political, national and ethnic background , behavioral patterns and all the cultural characteristics and codes by which every human group is defined, either on an individual level or in the relation between the group and the other.