These Walls Are All About Freedom

Khaled Jarada started drawing when he was six, and since then has become a precocious artist. But a year ago he began to be attracted to a different kind of art, one not shaded on paper but blazoned on public walls.

Graffiti is everywhere in Gaza, but it mostly focuses on people who were martyred. Now at age 17, Khaled is one of the few emerging talents there who are concentrating on graffiti as an art form.

His work is often removed, but he continues to make it. For him it’s a way to communicate with the outside world, and an expression of freedom.

For more info – Khaled’s Facebook page

Khaled at work — Khaled putting away his acrylic colors. By Sami Haven

Khaled sketching his portrait. By Sami Haven

Khaled showing me his drawings. By Sami Haven

Khaled in front of his potential canvas. By Sami Haven

Khaled sitting on his wall. By Sami Haven

Khaled playing the guitar he drew. By Sami Haven

Khaled in front of his wall. By Sami Haven

Sami Haven

Sami Haven was born in Amman, Jordan, in 1987. His mother is originally from Yabroud, Syria, and his father is English born in the Caribbean. He grew up in his grandmother's house in Jabal al-wehbdeh, in the heart of Amman. In 2003 Sami moved to Al-Saru, on the outskirts of Amman, where he studied graphic design at Al Ahliyya University, graduating with the highest grades of his class. In 2005 he moved to Rome, Italy, where he did his masters in Photography. Sami worked with the world's most famous photographers like Steven Klein and Oliviero Toscani, along with many others. His works have been included in the Biennale of Venice directed by Kazuyo Sejima, Paris-Photo, and also in Tokio. After working in various editions of X-FACTOR Italia - making video clips for the contestants - in theatre with Fendi, and in the high fashion industry, Sami felt there was something missing, and so he decided to go to Gaza, Palestine, because it is an example of resistance and humanity, and to try and contrast the image constructed by the Western media that serves only the powerful. Today Sami is co-funder and part of an on growing conceptual group called Jasmine. A group united through passion against fear, a smell that's to spread out from the Mediterranean like a virus, to contaminate the world with Love, and heal from indifference. All can be part, and all shall be armed: Culture, Art, Music and Sport shall be our weapons of mass construction.