Artist's Statement
Why is Franz Kafka's literary work relevant to today’s Palestine? Kafka’s work is often described with the adjective 'Kafkaesque,' which means, according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, 'having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical [condition].' Many facets of everyday life in Palestine are 'Kafkaesque,' not solely because of the mere existence of Palestinians, but due to ongoing Israeli colonization. Works like 'The Metamorphosis,' 'The Trial,' 'A Hunger Artist,' 'Before the Law,' and 'In the Penal Colony' serve as allegories for the confusion, anxiety, and alienation experienced by the average Palestinian.
However, this is not the sole reason Kafka is relevant. Despite being Jewish, Kafka was one of the first to refuse the Zionist project at its inception. Perhaps his shortest story, 'Jackals and Arabs,' hints at the complexity of the Palestinian situation. The story remains a mystery and is open for further discussion.
The new piece 'Kafka in Palestine' is available now. DM me if you want one.
Source:
https://www.instagram.com/ahmedhmeedat/p/C4JFHbcov_e/?locale=es_LA&hl=en