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The Captive Mosque

2022

[SOLD] Commission art

Mixed Media sculpture, paint and resin on a wooden canvas

Artwork description:

This piece features a delicate sculpture of the Al Aqsa mosque complex, symbolizing Jerusalem's deeply rooted spiritual and cultural heritage. Next to the mosque, the poignant Arabic words from Tamim Al-Barghouti's poem "In Jerusalem" ask, "Is it just for us that the city has become too small?" The viewer is drawn to the tension of space and belonging as expressed in the poem. Below the inscription, a small door that opens and closes evokes a sense of restricted access, representing the complexities of entering and leaving this sacred, yet contested, space.

The poem by Tamim Al-Barghouti reflects on the deep emotional and historical connections people have with Jerusalem, a city burdened by political strife and displacement. The verse chosen in this artwork captures the feeling of alienation — that the once-vast city now feels constricted, especially to those whose access is limited or denied. The door beneath the text becomes symbolic of hope, possibility, and at the same time, frustration, mirroring the poem’s themes of exclusion and longing. The contrast of the beach, with its open expanse, against the intimacy of the sculpture and the closing door suggests a deeper reflection on freedom, confinement, and the universal human desire for peace and belonging.