Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
Acclaimed British/Pakistani artist Saba Ahmed Akhalwaya has opened an exhibition of Palestinian struggles and the ongoing genocide in Gaza at the Nour Venues hall in Soofie Saheb Road, Riverside, Durban.
Saba Ahmed Akhalwaya is a distinguished graduate of Oxford University’s Ruskin College of Arts with a specialization in fine arts. Formerly serving as a curator at the prestigious Natural History Museum in South Kensington, Saba is renowned for her innovative approach to installation art with a deep commitment to social justice and human rights.
She has now made Durban her home after spending most of her life in the UK.
Her powerful exhibition showcases paintings and installation art, which she has themed “Matrix: A Choice for Conscious Awakening.”
She told Al Qalam that her work “is an immersive experience designed to lead you through a transformative journey of self-reflection and awareness.
The exhibition leads to a 5m mural art piece with multiple images which signify the hope and actions that support the struggle for liberation. Following in Mandela’s legacy, South Africans have been at the forefront of global solidarity efforts for Palestine.
The resonance between the struggles against apartheid and occupation underscores the universal principles of justice, equality, and human dignity. Just as South Africans stood in solidarity with Palestinians in their quest for liberation, “Matrix: A Choice for Conscious Awakening” calls on individuals and communities worldwide to join together in solidarity with the Palestinian people
“Through a series of emotionally charged artworks, including installations, and multimedia projections, and with the echoes of a Palestinian girl, the exhibition sheds light on the daily struggles, resilience, and resistance of the Palestinian people. With an overflow of visual and auditory stimuli the viewer has to leave the exhibition needing to turn back to their own daily reality”, she added.
“This exhibition reminds us of the power of art to awaken our consciousness, to ignite our empathy, and to inspire us to strive for a better future. All 4 Gaza, a new private charity organization, has provided the platform and space for this exhibition.
They plan to host viewings and tours of the exhibition to allow individuals, schools, and other organisations to make that choice and stand in solidarity once again on the right side of History.”
