Palestinian Workers - (2013-16)
At the heart of traditional Palestinian industries are historical production techniques that have been fine-tuned through generations and which in some cases stretch back over one thousand years. These once flourishing industries which include the production of olive oil soap in Nablus, olive wood carving in Bethlehem and shoemaking in Hebron are today barely surviving.
Artisan industries around the world are teetering under the weight of globalisation. This challenge is compounded in Palestine by the added struggles of surviving under ongoing military occupation, which includes Israel's control over Palestinian borders and exploitation of natural resources.
Palestine's traditional industries grew at a time when the movement of people and goods around the Arab world enriched them. This two-way flow included the importation of raw hides from Damascus, Beirut and Cairo to supply tanneries in Hebron, and the export of Nablus’ famous olive oil soap to the souks of the Arab world which were its primary, although not exclusive, marketplace.
In sharp contrast, movement of workers or trade even around the tiny Palestinian enclave which is now called the ‘West Bank’ is impossible without passing through Israeli military checkpoints, while other historic cities such as Jersualem and Jaffa have disappeared behind Israel’s Wall. Gaza, another significant trading post on historic routes, is now entirely isolated with its residents, including its workers, unable to get out.
With a widespread lack of employment opportunities in the West Bank, including within the traditional industries which today collectively employ only a fraction of their former workforce, many workers would feel impelled to attempt to pass the Wall and its checkpoints to seek work in Jerusalem or inside today's state of Israel itself if they were able to acquire the necessary work permits. Yet these Israeli-issued permits are denied to most Palestinians. Those workers who are issued work permits are then forced to queue from the early hours of the morning at military checkpoints in the hope of reaching work.
Awards:
Humanity Photo Awards - 'Performance Award' Winner, 2015
Exhibitions:
Hull International Photography Festival, HIP Gallery Hull - 2017
Mernier Gallery, London, (Group Show) - 2017