Gaza in My Phone collects the complete drawings made by Lebanese artist Mazen Kerbaj in response to the ongoing genocidal campaign on Gaza. As early as the 9th of October 2023, Kerbaj started drawing in reaction to the horrors that all of us were, and still are, seeing daily on our screens and posting the images on his Instagram. On the one hand, he draws to bear witness and raise awareness, and on the other hand as a coping mechanism, in an attempt to remain sane amidst the unfolding madness. The straight-to-the-point high-contrast black and white images are often accompanied by striking slogans or a few words describing the events in a personal way, making them easy to grasp, print at home, and stick on walls. The works have been widely shared on social media, allowing tens of thousands of people worldwide to express their own solidarity and to identify with the artist’s feelings and positions.
Mazen Kerbaj is a Lebanese comics author, visual artist, and musician born in Beirut in 1975. He also works on selective illustration and design projects and has taught at the American University of Beirut. Kerbaj is the author of 15 books translated into more than ten languages and his work has been shown in galleries, museums and art fairs around the world. Mazen Kerbaj is widely considered as one of the initiators and key players of the Lebanese free improvisation and experimental music scene. As a trumpet player, he pushes the boundaries of the instrument beyond recognition.
The full lecture is available for viewing here: