“His exhibition «Resonances» opens with a table installation displaying colourful Polaroid photographs alongside carefully embroidered pieces of linen and silk. These works serve as variations and colour studies inspired by the plant genus ‹Aeonium›, whose ancient greek name means ‹everlasting›. This resilient species, characterised by its thick leaves and unique geometry, can survive without water and thrives across diverse geographies. Over the past year, Majd Abdel Hamid has repeatedly encountered these evergreens – in a car park in Beirut, on a mountainside in Greece, on a balcony in Lyon, as a houseplant in Paris. Over the course of several weeks, the Palestinian artist observed a small specimen growing. This quiet yet persistent growth inspired him to translate the slow process into a motif (Resonances motif. We can follow the growth of his motif throughout stitched variations and embroidered colour studies, until he arrived at the one that resonated with him most: three interlaced squares with stitch lengths of four, five, and six.
The series Resonances repetitions takes up this motif and repeats it until patterns and compositions emerge. For Hamid, the beauty of embroidery lies in the practice of abstraction and the continuous act of simplification. As he puts it, it is a way of thinking about things without being too loud. The motif dissolves into the composition without requiring explanation or making a statement. The colourful, almost musical textile works are not about violence, destruction, or a specific territory; nor do they follow a defined representational intention. For Hamid, what matters is the material and the meticulous process – one that demands patience and careful attention, often for hours on end.”
Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen press kit
Photos: E. Sommer for Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen 2025
“Abdel Hamid’s practice resists spectacle, choosing instead to dwell in the quiet, the unfinished, and the fragile. Rather than offering resolution, his works hold space for ambiguity, mourning, and subtle acts of defiance. Through thread and time, Abdel Hamid weaves a language of care, resistance, and deep attention to the unseen.
Resonance presents a series of embroideries tracing the slow growth of a succulent plant observed over several months. Through the practice of embroidery and watching a plant grow on a daily basis, Abdel Hamid abstracts a set of motifs from lived experience. Known for their thick leaves and ability to thrive in arid conditions, succulents embody resilience, adaptability, and quiet intelligence. Their spiral formations optimise survival, maximising light and channeling moisture to the roots.
In these embroidered studies, the plant becomes a metaphor for persistence under pressure and for enduring in resource-scarce environments. With subtlety and care, Abdel Hamid draws parallels between natural survival strategies and the emotional and political landscapes of human life.”
Commissioned by Mathaf
Exhibition text, We refuse-d, Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art. Doha
