Photographer Steve Sabella was born in Jerusalem in 1975. In 1997, he began what would ultimately become a long and illustrious academic trajectory, earning a degree in art photography from the...
STEVE SABELLA, Palestine (1975)
Bio
Written by Alessandra Amin
Photographer Steve Sabella was born in Jerusalem in 1975. In 1997, he began what would ultimately become a long and illustrious academic trajectory, earning a degree in art photography from the Musrara School of Photography in Jerusalem. Later, Sabella relocated to New York to complete a BA in visual studies at the Empire State College of the State University of New York (SUNY), from which he graduated in 2007. Immediately following his graduation, Sabella won a Chevening Scholarship from the English government in order to study in London, where he earned an MA in photographic studies at the University of Westminster. He graduated in 2008 with a Caparo Award of Distinction, but his third degree wasn’t his last; with the support of a Said Foundation Scholarship, he earned a second MA in art business at Sotheby’s in 2009.
Sabella was born eight years after Israel annexed Jerusalem, so he did not know life before the occupation. Growing up as a Palestinian in the epicenter of Israeli colonialism, Sabella was aware of how photography was mobilized as a means of propaganda, and of the many ways Jerusalem itself had been overdetermined in European and Israeli photographs. Partially in response to this, Sabella’s trajectory as a photographer began outside the city walls, where he captured the natural beauty of the trees and rock formations that make up Palestine’s hilly landscape. “From among the rocks of the Palestinian wilderness,” notes artist and critic Kamal Boullata, “the young Jerusalem photographer defined his own identification with the pristine state of his ancestral land.”
To this day, Steve Sabella’s photographic practice continues to explore the various facets of the artist’s identity as a Palestinian. This is not the exclusive theme of his work, however, nor is it something he approaches from the same angle each time; instead, Palestine appears in Sabella’s work through different forms and in different tones, ranging from the tragic to the absurd, from politically didactic to deeply personal. In addition to photography and video work, which the artist sees as profoundly intertwined, Sabella works in large-scale installations, such as the fiberglass Dependence (2016). Moreover, the artist finds unexpected ways of bringing tactility into his work with photographs, as seen in his 2014 series 38 Days of Re-Collection. Here, Sabella uses photo emulsion to spread images onto scrapings of paint he has collected from the walls of houses in Jerusalem’s Old City. The brittle scrapings themselves literalize a palimpsest: pieces of the present, they nevertheless render the past visible in their strata of colors, collected throughout the years as people painted and repainted their homes. These layers seem to testify to the hands that painted them, remnants and reminders of manual labor even as they bear infinitely reproducible photographic images. These ghostly black-and-white images stand in contrast to the warm materiality of the paint chips, evoking a free Jerusalem that no longer exists for its Palestinian residents.
While photography remains at the center of his work, Sabella does not limit himself to creating images, but also critically appropriates the photographs of others to create compelling digital collages. Perhaps the most significant example of this is The Great March of Return (2019), a “modern-day fresco” where some referred to it as the Palestinian Sistine Chapel, resembling the heavenly ceiling by the Italian painter Michelangelo. For this work, Sabella culled over a thousand images of “The Great March of Return,” a dangerous and powerful assembly held weekly in Gaza in protest of the Israeli blockade, from the work of Gazan photojournalists Atieh Darwish, Mustafa Mohamad, Majdi Fathi, Mohammed Asad, and Ashraf Amra. He then juxtaposed these images with photographs of outer space, creating a kaleidoscopic composition of Palestinian flags, shouting protestors, burning tires, and stunning nebulae to “demonstrate a nation’s eternal fight for liberation.”
After prioritizing photography for twenty years, Sabella has recently begun to “explore image-making through words,” as the artist describes writing. In 2016, he published The Parachute Paradox, a memoir, which was translated into Arabic in 2017 by Palestinian novelist, poet, and critic Mohammed al-Asaad. The memoir garnered critical acclaim for its sensitive, personal engagement with the Israeli occupation and the candor with which Sabella discusses his own quest for identity and liberation. Among his studio’s most recent ventures are the first English translation of al-Asaad’s Atfal al-Nada (Children of Dew) and Palestine UNSETTLED, a documentary volume that combines photos taken throughout Palestine during the Second Intifada with critical texts by scholars in the field.
Sabella lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
Sources
Kamal Boullata, Palestinian Art, 1850 to the Present. London: Saqi, 2009
Artist’s website, https://stevesabella.com/biography/
Steve Sabella – Photography, 1997-2014. Berlin: Hatje Cantz, 2014
Steve Sabella and Rebecca Raue: Fragments From Our Beautiful Future. Berlin: Kerber Verlag, 2017
Steve Sabella, The Parachute Paradox, Berlin: Kerber Verlag, 2016
Documentary films
Guest & Story by Samah Altaweel, 2015
In the Darkroom with Steve Sabella by Nadia J. Kabalan, 2014
Arts InSight: Who is Steve Sabella? produced by Ernie Manouse, Europe Through Their Eyes by Ma’an TV Productions, 2010
“Jerusalem in Exile” and “Kan Yama Kan”— two episodes in the documentary project Beyond Blue & Gray by Eyes Infinite Films, 2005-2006
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CV
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
Steve Sabella: Transcendance, Der Divan – das Arabische Kulturhaus, Berlin, Germany
2021
Steve Sabella: Everland, metroquadro, Turin, Italy
2018
Evolution, Paris Art Fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France
Wavelengths, Metroquadro Gallery, Turin, Italy
2017
Fragments from our Beautiful Future, double-person solo, The Bumiller Collection, Berlin, Germany
2016
Steve Sabella – The Parachute Paradox, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait City, Kuwait
2014
Fragments, Berloni Gallery, London, UK
Layers, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait
Archaeology of the Future, Scavi Scaligeri International Center for Photography in collaboration with Boxart Gallery, Verona, Italy
Independence, Meem Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2011
Euphoria & Beyond, The Empty Quarter Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2010
Steve Sabella: In Exile, Metroquadro Gallery, Rivoli, Italy
2005
Kan Yama Kan & Till the End, French Cultural Center, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
Franco-German Cultural Center, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
2003
End of Days, Al-Kahf Gallery, International Center of Bethlehem, Occupied Palestine
Al Najah University, Nablus, Occupied Palestine
French Cultural Centers of Gaza and Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
Al-Hallaj Gallery, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
2002
Search, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
Identity, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
Life is Splendid, Artotheque de Montreal Gallery, Montreal, Canada
1998
A Moment of Truth, French Cultural Center, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Ce que la Palestine apporte au monde, Institute du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
The Little Prince of Gaza, Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon
2022
Earth Power!, Montoro12 Gallery, Rome, Italy
2020
Couleurs du monde Collection du Musée d’art moderne et contemporain de la Palestine., Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Les collections vivantes de l’IMA | Mémoires partagées Un choix de photos et vidéos du monde arabe dans la Donation Claude & France Lemand, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
2019
Intimate Terrains: Representations of a Disappearing Landscape, The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Occupied Palestine
MIA Photo Fair, Milan, Italy
2018
Tribe: Contemporary Photography from the Arab World, Katzen Arts Center, Washington DC, USA
Beirut Spring Festival, Beirut, Lebanon
Un oeil ouvert sur le monde arabe, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
2017
Lada Dada Kalem, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany
Athens Photo Fest – Photobook Festival, Benaki Museum, Pireos Annexe, Athens, Greece
2016
Inaugurazione nova sede a Torino, Metroquadro, Turin, Italy
After the Last Sky,Ballhaus Naunystrasse, Berlin, Germany
The Country of Last Things, Art-Lab Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2015
First Biennial of Photographers of the Contemporary Arab World, Institut du Monde Arabe and Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
Nel Mezzo del Mezzo, Museo Riso, Palermo, Italy
Summer Exhibition, Berloni Gallery, London, UK
2x10: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Boxart, Boxart Gallery, Verona, Italy
Walls and Margins, Barjeel Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
German Cool, Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE
2014
View from Inside: Contemporary Arab Video, Photography, and Mixed Media, FotoFest Biennial, Houston, USA
Abu Dhabi Festival, Emirates Palace Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Keep Your Eyes on the Wall, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait
Yalla Shebab Film Festival and Exhibition - 5th Edition, Lecca, Italy
Recreational Purpose, Bahrain National Museum, Manama (commissioned), Bahrain
Bridge to Palestine, Mark Hachem Gallery at the Beirut Exhibition Center, Beirut, Lebanon
2013
Keep Your Eye on the Wall, Les Rencontres d’Arles, Arles; Photoquai 2013, Espace Central Dupon, Paris, France
Berlin, Israel/Palestine or How Will a New Mindset be Possible, Sprechsaal, Berlin, Germany
2012
The Changing Room: Arab Reflections on Praxis and Times, London; Spazio Qubi, Turin, Italy
Olympic Cultural Program, Hub Westminster, London, UK
2010
This Is Not a Love Song, The Empty Quarter Gallery, Dubai, UAE
Young Academy, Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany
The Interrupted Image, Nicholas Robinson Gallery, New York, USA
Borderlines: Deconstructing Exile, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE
Residua, Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
2009
Palestine : La création dans tous ses états, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
National Museum of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain
Told, Untold, Retold, inaugural exhibition of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
Deconstructing Myths & Realities, Galerie Caprice Horn, Berlin, Germany
NOW: Art of the 21st Century, Phillips de Pury, London, UK
2008
The Independent Photographers Terry O’Neil Award Exhibition, Fulham Palace, London, UK
Independent Photographers Gallery, East Sussex, UK
Gates of the Mediterranean, Palazzo Piozzo, Rivoli, Italy
Skip Intro, P3 Gallery, London, UK
2007
Neighbors in Dialogue, Istanbul Collection for Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Challenging Walls, Walkscreen, projection on the Separation Wall, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
2006
Art in a Social Context, Boomerang Theatre, Cork
2005
At Home, Abrons Art Center, New York, USA
Shaping Communities in Times of Crisis: Narratives of Land, Peoples, and Identities,
International Center of Bethlehem, Occupied Palestine
2004
Palestinian Ministry of Culture Exhibition, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Young Artist of the Year Award, AM Qattan Fundation, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
2003
Mind, Body, & Soul, ARC Gallery, Chicago, USA
2002
Homeland, Musrara School of Photography, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
Hope and the Aesthetic Moment: Young Artist of the Year Award 2002, AM Qattan Foundation, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Occupied Palestine
Eyes from Jerusalem, Museo di Roma, Trastavere, Rome, Italy
1999
Kick Off, The New Gallery, Jerusalem, Occupied Palestine
1998
Search, Beit Ha’am Gallery, Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine
Awards and Honors
2017
Visual Arts Grant, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (for Palestine UNSETTLED).
2009
Said Foundation Scholarship
2008
Ellen Aurbach Award, Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Caparo Award of Distinction, University of Westminster
Chevening Scholarship
Collections
British Museum, London, UK
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
Institut Du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art
Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon
Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE
Bahrain National Museum, Manama, Bahrain
+–
Documents
Beyond-Palestine-Malu-Halasa-Layers-Catalogue-2014.pdf
Gallerie-Sabella-Feb-2010.pdf
canvas-myrna-ayad-review-nov-2011.pdf
metroquadro-catalogue-2010.pdf
+–
Press
2017-Yogi-Times-Interview.pdf
Foreword-Abed-Al-Kadiri-Layers-Catalogue-2014.pdf
Al Araby_Nawal el Ali.pdf
Liberation-as-a-state-of-mind-Jyoti-Kalsi-GulfNews-November-2014.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Wins-His-Battle-With-Exile-Alakhbar-April-15-2015-Monther-Jawabreh.pdf
Al Jazeera.pdf
Foreword-Meagan-Kelly-Horsman-Independence-Meem-Gallery.pdf
Image-as-Witness-Archeology-of-the-Past-Interview-with-Steve-Sabella.pdf
The-Palestine-Chronicle-The-Parachute-Paradox-Book-Review-By-Rod-Such.pdf
Preserving-the-Image-July-2014-Canvas-Robin-Mann.pdf
TAZ-Interview-Kunst-Raum-June-2017.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Artforum-Critics-Picks-Kevin-Jones-November-2014.pdf
The-Question-of-Jerusalem-Mohammad-Al-Asad-Al-Khaleej-January-5-2015.pdf
Steve-Sabella.pdf
The-Parachute-Paradox-review-The-National-by-Joseph-Dana.pdf
Al-Quds-Al-Arabi-23-11-08-lamees-anas.pdf
Perturbed-Visions-Nat-Muller-Walls-and-Margins-Barjeel-Foundation-Catalogue-2015.pdf
Al-Ayam-4-9-07-najwan-darwish.pdf
dorothea-schoene-review-2012.pdf
Book-of-the-Month-Steve-Sabella-Photography-1997-2014-This-Week-In-Palestine-April-2015.pdf
New-Constellations-for-Steve-Sabella-Canvas-January-2015.pdf
A-Retrospective-Exhibition-for-Steve-Sabella-AlAribi-Aljadid-October-7-2014-Maryam-Janjelo-Al-Kadiri-Arabic.pdf
Haaretz-11-3-05-Danny-Rubenstein.pdf
Al-Akhbar-17-09-2008-najwan-darwish.pdf
Wall-Street-Journal.pdf
Reconstructing.pdf
agenda-review2010.pdf
Palestine-Tour-April-2015-Press-Release.pdf
after-image-april-2012-dorothea-schoene.pdf
steve-sabella-The-Last-Word-canvas-nov-2013.pdf
Al-Quds-Al-Arabi-24-12-07-najwan-darwish.pdf
Al-Akhbar-8-7-07-najwan-darwish.pdf
Talking-Art-by-Nada-Bokhowa-Harpers-Bazaar-Art-Arabia-November-2016.pdf
An-Artist-Examines-the-Israel-Palestine-Conflict-in-Dark-Ambiguous-Photographs-Artsy-Editorial-Stephen-Dillon-November-21-2014.pdf
sabella-review-CP-03-2010.pdf
Adrift-Harpers-Bazaar-January-February-2015-Rebecca-Anne-Proctor-1.pdf
Through-the-Tour-of-Artist-Steve-Sabella-in-Palestine-AlQuds-Newspaper-April-10-2015.pdf
Sabella-in-conversation-wih-Sara-Rossino-Turin-Sept-2011.pdf
Al Araby.pdf
Book-Release-The-Parachute-Paradox-IMEU-dec-21-2016.pdf
Al-Araby-Al-Jadeed-Sept-2016-Steve-Sabella-The-Parachute-Paradox.pdf
Time-Out-dubai-25-03-10.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Art-as-a-Process-of-Liberation-Al-Araby-Oct-7-2016.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Insights-Into-the-Nature-of-Identity-and-Visual-Reality-Cedar-Wings-Magazine-Issue-142-August-2014.pdf
Al Araby_Housam Ghoshah.pdf
Free-Falling-Into-the-Future-Essay-Only-Madeline-Yale-Preston-Independence-Meem-Gallery-2014.pdf
Why-Paris-first-festival-CNN-Olivia-Snaje-January-12-2016.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Creative-Interpretation-or-Visual-Deconstruction-Tribe-Madeline-Yale-Preston-2015.pdf
Fragments-Harper-Bazaar-Sheyma-Buali-July-2014-p-104-107.pdf
Colonialism-In-His-Description-Is-A-Consumption-Of-Images-Mohammad-Al-Asad-Al-Arabi-El-Jadid-January-5-2014.pdf
The-Harrowed-Hands-of-Palestine-Sarah-Irving-Electronic-Intifada-November-2-2015.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Independence-Exhibition-Review-Afterimage-Seth-Thompson-Jan-Feb-2015.pdf
Steve-Sabella-Photography-1997-to-2014-The-Journal-of-Palestine-Studies-Dorothea-Schoene-2015-web.pdf
Art and Yoga_ a path to the True Self, An interview with Artist Steve Sabella.pdf
Palestinian-photographer-Steve-Sabella-declares-independence-through-mental-images-book-review-Art-Radar-September-12-2014-Lisa-Pollman.pdf
Stitched-Wounds-SELECTIONS-by-Corinne-Martin-Nov-16-2015.pdf
Identity-Between-Two-Worlds-The-Art-of-Materialising-Exile-Alkhaleej-By-Mohammed-Alasaad.pdf
Shifting-Sands-Photography-and-Beyond-Art-Auction-Trent-Morse-March-2015.pdf
agenda-review2010.pdf
‘The era of essence, imagination and hard work’_ interview with Palestinian artist Steve Sabella – Middle East Monitor.pdf
Bridge to Palestine _ voyage au cœur de la création contemporaine palestinienne - ONORIENT.pdf
Unlocking-Visual-Codes-Steve-Sabella-Al-Araby-Al-Jadeed-April-6-2015.pdf
STEVE SABELLA Artwork
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