Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art opened its doors to the ‘Khalid Albaih: Shahid’ exhibition today, showcasing the poignant work of Sudanese artist and political cartoonist Khalid Albaih.

Running until August 10, the exhibition offers visitors an immersive and thought-provoking experience, inviting them to reflect on their role as witnesses to ongoing tragedies, particularly what the artist described as “an ethnic cleansing in Gaza”.

Albaih’s installation, titled ‘Shahid,’ which translates to “witness” in Arabic, confronts viewers with the stark realities of the conflict in Gaza. Through interactive audiovisual elements, the exhibition compels visitors to contemplate their response to the crisis and recognise the humanity behind the staggering statistics of lives lost.

During a media tour, Albaih highlighted the aim of his installation, saying: "In this one (installation), I ask the viewer to stand and to say these people’s names and be involved in those images that we all see. There’s a few images that we know who these people are, but there are 6,647 names that we'd never seen their pictures, we don’t know who they are.

“But here, we say their names and we stand witness to their lives... If the world can’t see Gaza with all the evidence coming out of there, how can they see Sudan; which means if they can see Gaza, they can definitely see us and all of us”.

The artist stressed the importance of acknowledging the individual lives lost, urging viewers to engage with the names and stories behind the images that often circulate on social media.

Curated by Fatma Mostafawi and Hadeel al-Kohaji, the exhibition features four powerful digital illustrations displayed on a mirrored wall. These illustrations capture pivotal moments from the conflict, drawing attention to the human cost of violence and displacement. Visitors’ reflections in the mirror merge with the depictions of victims, reinforcing their role as witnesses to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza.

The exhibition also incorporates a recorded recitation of the names and ages of martyrs, sourced from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Albaih reiterated the urgency of bearing witness to these lives, highlighting the global community’s responsibility to confront injustice and amplify marginalised voices.

Speaking to Gulf Times, Mathaf director Zeina Arida underlined the timeliness of the exhibition amid ongoing crises, noting that the artist informed her about the urgency and the pressing nature of his task - a factor that motivated Mathaf's decision to organise the exhibition.

Welcoming Albaih's initiative, she cited the artist's clear vision and trusted his direction, saying: “Khalid is a politically engaged artist who brings his two-dimensional work to three-dimensional installations, addressing urgent issues with clarity and vision”.

Arida expressed her pride in debuting Albaih’s exhibition at Mathaf, citing the museum’s dedication to highlighting a diverse range of Arab artistry and tackling urgent social and political issues. She lauded the artist’s ability to provoke meaningful dialogue through his immersive installations, which challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths.

“It is with great pride that we unveil Khalid Albaih's exhibition at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, reflecting Mathaf’s role as a platform for regional artists to showcase their visions. Since its inception, Mathaf has always been committed to illuminating the diverse tapestry of Arab artistry, covering unique, important causes and shedding light on the way societies are structured as it interrogates the role art plays in our local and regional contexts,” she said in a statement.