Adam Zedan

A3yaad Wa Afraa7, ‘Celebrations and Joyous Gatherings’ in Franco Arabic, investigates an aspect of social performance within Eid family gatherings. The attire worn at these gatherings often signifies socioeconomic status and shapes how a family is perceived within society. These gatherings unfold within the ‘Saloon/ Living Room’, a site of aesthetic curation, an articulation of familial pride and self-definition. In turn, this led me to reflect on my own identity and how I define myself as a Palestinian artist within the space I currently inhabit. The inquiry extends into a broader reflection of what it means to take on the role of the “Arab Artist”. The title itself is a play on communication through visual language, Franco Arabic, a puzzle- pieced language unique to the Arab youth, served as a starting point for an extended exploration of my own visual language and self definition.