Samah Shihadi and Michael Halak: Terra (Un)firma

Originally scheduled as the solo exhibition of Samah Shihadi, to take place at Cromwell Place in London, in October 2020, the exhibition has evolved in unexpected ways, first with a digital showcase and now with a physical exhibition in Dubai which now encompasses a body of work by fellow Haifa-based hyperrealist, Michael Halak.

The body of work produced by Samah Shihadi for Terra Un(firma) is divided into two segments, The Living and The Land, which take the artist’s personal narratives and feminist outlook as a starting point from which to explore issues faced by women, across cultures, in the contemporary moment.

Michael Halak’s art follows western traditions of realist, illusory painting, but diverges in content which conflates local and global realities. For Terra (Un) Firma the seven selected paintings by Halak capture the faces, social scenes and landscapes which immediately surround him. In these works flora and herbs such as olives and thyme prevail as a symbol of Palestinian identity but also speak to the universal viewer.