In the war-torn land of Gaza, artist Basel El Maqosui survives each day astonished that he’s still alive, a grim testament to the ongoing violence that has claimed over 64,000 Palestinian lives. "The war began, and life essentially stopped. We flee from bombing, struggling to find water and food while running has become our new reality," El Maqosui reflects.

With nearly two million Palestinians displaced, the artistry of survival shines through amidst the rubble. El Maqosui is part of a fortifying exhibition titled ‘Under Fire’ at Darat al-Funun in Amman, showcasing work from four resilient Gazan artists, each using whatever materials they can procure in the face of daily bombardment.

Armed with a black charcoal pencil, El Maqosui transforms horror into haunting imagery: men blindfolded and stripped, mourning women clutching one another, and scarred children amidst a sea of makeshift tents. "My art serves as a beacon, proclaiming that we, the people of Palestine, deserve dignity and freedom, just like everyone else in the world," he states passionately.

Once an art teacher in Beit Lahia, before October 2023 altered everything, El Maqosui’s journey now leads him to organize over 100 workshops titled 'Artistic Residence, Not Displacement'. Amidst the turmoil, he offers children and their mothers a momentary escape, helping them channel their fears through creativity. One of his most heart-wrenching experiences came while facilitating a workshop with mothers, who wept as they drew their lost homes and fading dreams.

"This is my role in the war. While it may seem small, I’m giving children a fleeting chance to forget their nightmares and embrace creativity. It’s what keeps my humanity alive, and I cherish it dearly," he explains.

Khaled al-Bashir, the arts and culture director at Darat al-Funun, highlights the exhibition’s significance. "Given the circumstances under which these artists create, their resilience must be showcased. it's crucial to amplify Gazan voices right now. This exhibition exemplifies their extraordinary resolve in the face of violence and displacement."

All four featured artists were nurtured at a summer program led by Syrian artist Marwan Kassab Bachi and played pivotal roles in establishing two major art spaces in Gaza—Eltiqa Group and Shababeek for Contemporary Art, both devastated by the conflict.

Among the showcased works are the compelling ink drawings of Sohail Salem, meticulously documenting the pain he experiences. "These pieces are my cries for help, a visual archive of my trauma," he shares, narrating the harrowing moments when he crossed paths with the lifeless bodies of martyrs during his flight from danger.

Salem, once a university art instructor, faced detention by the Israeli Defense Forces, leaving him separated from his family amidst chaos. "The idea of creating art seemed absurd at first, but I found solace in my small notebooks—my lifeline as I scribbled what felt like my memoirs during this tumultuous time," he explains.

Another brilliant artist, Raed Issa, captures the resilience of Gaza's women and children, ingeniously using whatever materials are at hand—often drawing on medicine packages with improvised inks like karkadeh and pomegranate juice. "I had to adapt, turning empty supplies into art that reflects the hunger and struggles of my people," he states.

El Maqosui’s fellow artist, Majed Shala, also perseveres by creating on any scrap he can find, portraying everything from the beautiful cacti he misses from their balcony to stark realities of displacement. "As the war raged on, I documented our daily experiences, reminiscent of the 1948 Nakba stories passed down through generations, yet far more harrowing than those tales," he expresses.

In the heart of chaos, these artists channel their despair into powerful expressions of resilience, making their voices echo across borders and capturing the world’s attention with their poignant depictions of life under fire.