Hounek (There)
Jordan / 2009 / installation in public space / green LED, metal, Perspex / 218 x 74 x 15 cm

The light installation was realised during my artist-in-residence from December 2008 until February 2009 at exhibition space Makan House in Amman, and was made possible by generous support of Fonds BKVB.

During my 3-month residency a war took place in Gaza: from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009 Israel launched a military operation in response to rocket attacks from Gaza, and attacked dozens of targets throughout the Gaza Strip, such as warehouses, military posts, tunnels.
Since about 70% of Amman's inhabitants (at the time) had Palestinian roots, people in the capital were sad and tense. Lampposts had been given a black band, and I experienced how close Palestine is to people's daily lives, despite - or thanks to (?) - restrictions imposed by Israel on entering Palestine.
This writhing near-yet-far became the theme of my solo exhibition titled Hounek (the Arabic word for there), in the context of Amman, the word 'there' refers to Palestine: people call Palestine "hounek". With this work - and with my other works in the exhibition at Makan House - I aimed to depict the 'Palestinian Cause'. In this way a connection was also established with the local audiences.

During the exhibition the light sculpture Hounek was on the roof of Makan House: inaccessible, far, untouchable. Green light is common in the public space of Arab countries; green being the color of Islam and green fluorescent tubes often adorn minarets of mosques. Inside Makan House, the word Houne (here) was mounted on wheels, standing in the middel of one of the exhibition rooms. More about the works in the solo show of the residence at Makan House, Amman.