"Freedom is a State of Mind"

"Freedom is a State of Mind" is a screenprint showing a young man in Gaza, standing among rubble and the bodies left after a bombing. His posture and anguished scream capture the depth of his grief. The work asks viewers to reflect on their own freedoms, and how the meaning of freedom changes depending on a country’s political climate. It also questions whether freedom is truly a state of mind: Are we free mentally, physically, and emotionally? Is freedom something we are given—or something we must earn?
 

This piece was inspired by a photograph by Ali Jadallah, published in The Atlantic. The original image shows: “A Palestinian man mourns as civil-defense teams and residents search for people trapped under the debris of a demolished building following Israeli airstrikes that hit the Al-Shati refugee camp, in Gaza City, Gaza, on October 24, 2023.”

Image reference: The Atlantic – Photos of the Destruction in Gaza
Image credit: Ali Jadallah