First of all,I would like to thank Nedal,for the photos he sent me and his contribution on Escape Karma magazine.Let me introduce you his story and his work.Nedal Al Taoba is a 27year-old Palestinian who grew up in Syria after his family presecution for their homeland.As a young person who felt the need of freedom and justice,he has been involved with activism from his early years,in a demonstration in Syria he got shot and afterwards moved to Beirut,Lebanon.Once again there as a Palestinian he experienced restrictions and deprivation of human rights.His next station was Greece for a small period of time where he experienced asylum.Currently he lives in Germany with his wife.
Although Nedal lives in Europe now,he never forgets the Arabic world and the countries of middle East,he is well aware of the wars,the massacres and the unrests there.After the explosion in Beirut,a city where he lived for a while,he combined photos captured by some of his friends and photographers that display smoke after bomb explosions in the middle East in order to accomplish his collage which caused global sensation.
Through his collage art Nedal,doesn’t only referes to the problems of the Arabic world,but his activism expands worldwide,on racial,environmental,humanitarian,social and political issues.What impress me about him is the way he manages his personal experience and difficulties he faced so far and as a result he transforms them into awaking and so touching art.
Is there a time for kohl and lipstick
A time for curling hair
Is there a time for high street shopping
To find the right dress to wear
Miss Sarajevo,
Some of his works feel like a punch on the face.They are so meaningful and powerful that is almost impossible not to touch you or make you feel anger and disgust about the impassiveness and the indifference on the pain and the struggle of less favoured fellow human beings.To this point we once again be capable of realizing the meaning and the mission of art,its use is not restricted to delight us but also to inspire,to awaken,to trigger feelings,to force us to turn to our inner world,to move us,to lead us think and question.And Nedal’s art has the ability and the power to make all of the things that I mentioned.
Nedal Al Taoba ,mix of his collages
“Is there a time for tying ribbons
A time for Christmas trees
Is there a time for laying tables
And the night is set to freeze”
Miss Sarajevo,U2
“Is there a time for first communion
A time for East Seventeen
Is there a time to turn to Mecca
Is there time to be a beauty queen”
Miss Sarajevo,U2
Nedal Al Taoba’s collage art
Through his oeuvre we are able to spot that he is not only focused on the middle East and the bombings,but his awareness affected by environmetal and global issues and to go beyond he also made collages inspired by the pandemic caused by Covid-19 and the discussion around the vaccines.
Last but not least,Nedal is not only an activist on Instagram and the rest of social media but in real life too.Let’s get political,philosophical,humanitarian volunteers,let’s act on global issues that affect us all.
Thank you for taking the time to read.He left me speechless with the first collage I saw on Instagram and felt the need to contact him to congratulate him on his work and ask him to contribute on my magazine.We had a discussion over his art and the issues we face as a modern society.He is kind,smart and willing to help you without even knowing you.
You can Follow Nedal on Instagram and Facebook.
Eleni Kadigkou Xx
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