Keep Your Eye on the Wall: Palestinian Landscapes is a book and project involving six Palestinian photographers who trained their lenses on the Separation Wall, a stretch of wall separating Israel and Palestine that was declared to be illegal by the International Court of Justice.
The photographs were all taken from the Palestinian side of the wall, and therefore represent the voices of those the wall is designed to control and oppress. While Gaza-born photographer Taysir Batniji's photos concentrate on the Gaza stretch of the wall, the other photographers capture sections of the wall in the West Bank. Some of the photos capture the wall in a straightforward manner, while others take on a more abstract approach.
The decision to compile photographs of the Separation Wall was taken during the 2010/2011 Arab Spring, when much of the media ignored the long-term occupation of Palestine.
Oppressive Wall Photography
These Photos Capture the Palestinian View of the Separation Wall
Trend Themes
1. Palestinian Photography - The trend of Palestinian photographers capturing and sharing their perspective of the Separation Wall presents opportunities for new ways to document historical events and social justice movements.
2. Oppression Art - The trend of using art to demonstrate messages of oppression, like Oppressive Wall Photography, presents opportunities for creatives to voice social and political issues in a powerful way.
3. Narrative-based Photography - The trend of narrative-based photography, like the photographs capturing the Palestinian view of the Separation Wall, presents opportunities for storytelling and immersive experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - The photography industry can benefit from the trend of Oppressive Wall Photography as it allows photographers to capture and share diverse perspectives, pushing boundaries towards new creativity opportunities.
2. Journalism - The trend of documentary-style photography, capturing real-life situations of oppression and marginalization, like the Oppressive Wall Photography, presents opportunities for journalists to report on hard-to-reach areas and share meaningful content with their audience.
3. Art - The art industry can benefit from the trend of Oppressive Wall Photography and other forms of art-based activism, in creating meaningful pieces that expose and provoke thoughts on society's most pressing issues among viewers.