Refugee Stories: The Art of Mohamad Hafez

The exhibition [i]Unpacked[/i] tells the stories of different refugees through Hafez’s miniaturized recreations of a moment in time or memory recollected by the refugee and are placed within a suitcase. This is also accompanied by an audio component with the story told in their own words. Many of his artistic recreations exhibit a sense of nostalgia for what was, the homes and culture these refugees took pride in, but shown in the midst of their destruction. Each story is unique, yet each story tells of a great sense of loss coupled with the courage and force of will it took each refugee to leave their home. [b]More about Mohamad Hafez[/b] Mohamad Hafez was born in Damascus, raised in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and educated in the Midwestern United States. He serves as a 2018 Yale University Silliman College Fellow. Expressing the juxtaposition of East and West within him, Hafez’s art reflects the political turmoil in the Middle East through the compilation of found objects, paint and scrap metal. Using his architectural skills, Hafez creates surrealistic Middle Eastern streetscapes that are architectural in their appearance yet politically charged in their content. His artwork has recently been featured in four highly acclaimed exhibitions and profiled in National Public Radio, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Photo credit Cole Wilson [b]Related Events[/b] [i]Unpacked: Refugee Baggage[/i] [url=https://www.museums.iastate.edu/art/exhibitions/#CPAM]Exhibition opening reception[/url] 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, Christian Petersen Art Museum Exhibition runs through Oct. 19 [b]University Museums Series[/b] [url=https://www.museums.iastate.edu/calendar/the-age-of-the-stateless-le-temps-des-egares---film-showing/]Film showing: [i]The Age of the Stateless (Le Temps Des Egares)[/url][/i] 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 Christian Petersen Art Museum [url=https://www.museums.iastate.edu/calendar/war-the-refugee-crisis-and-the-global-response/ ]War, the Refugee Crisis and the Global Response[/url] 4-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 Christian Petersen Art Museum Nell Gabiam, associate professor of anthropology, will discuss responses to the global refugee crisis. [url=https://www.museums.iastate.edu/calendar/developing-empathy-the-refugee-experience/ ]Developing Empathy: The Refugee Experience[/url] 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 Christian Petersen Art Museum Drawing on her collaborative work with Facing History and Ourselves, Katherine Bruna, associate professor of education, will model the organization’s resources and pedagogical strategies to encourage the development of connections to the refugee experience through this exhibition. [url=https://www.museums.iastate.edu/calendar/refugee-stories-at-iowa-state/ ]Refugee Stories at Iowa State[/url] 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 Christian Petersen Art Museum ISU faculty, staff and students will share their own stories about the refugee experience to further understanding, empathy and inclusion at Iowa State.