<
https://theconversation.com/we-painted-our-fear-hope-and-dreams-examining-the-art-and-artists-of-guantanamo-bay-246964>
"When Moath al-Alwi left Guantánamo Bay for resettlement in Oman, accompanying
him on his journey was a cache of artwork he created during more than two
decades of detention.
Al-Alwi was detainee number “028” – an indication that he was one of the first
to arrive at the U.S. military prison off Cuba after it opened in January 2002.
His departure from the detention center on Jan. 6, 2025, along with 10 fellow
inmates, was part of an effort to reduce the prison’s population before the end
of President Joe Biden’s term.
For al-Alwi, it meant freedom not only for himself, but also for his artwork.
While not all detainees shared his passion, creating art was not an uncommon
pursuit inside Guantánamo – indeed it has been a feature, formally and
informally, of the detention center since its opening more than 20 years ago.
As editors of the recently published book “The Guantánamo Artwork and Testimony
of Moath al-Alwi: Deaf Walls Speak,” we found that art-making in Guantánamo was
more than self-expression; it became a testament to detainees’ emotions and
experiences and influenced relationships inside the detention center. Examining
the art offers unique ways of understanding conditions inside the facility."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
