The Sabra and Shatila Massacre by Dia Al-Azzawi and the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid: the tapestry as a collaborative contemporary artwork
Abstract
This article analyzes the monumental work of Iraqi artist Dia Al-Azzawi, The Sabra and Shatila Massacre (1982–83), which was inspired by the genocide committed in the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut in 1982. This work, considered the Guernica of the Arab world, expresses the artist's suffering and pain in response to the tragedy. It´s characterized by a semi-abstract and monochromatic style, rich in symbolism. Due to the materials used to make it, it is very fragile and difficult to transport and handle. For this reason, its reproduction as a tapestry was facilitated, commissioned from the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid, which acquires the status of a unique work in itself. This study establishes parallels between this piece and Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, both in its pictorial creation and its subsequent textile reproduction. The reproduction also serves as a prominent example of contemporary art that merges traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Ultimately, the work reaffirms the role of art as a repository of historical memory and as a tool for social critique.
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