By Clara Marcelli.

One of our columnists had the privilege of attending the first solo exhibition of artist Sabri Mohamed Al-Qurashi, held at Villa Belleville in Paris from January 23 to 26. Born in 1973 to Yemeni parents in Saudi Arabia, Sabri’s creative journey has defied adversity. While held at Guantánamo Bay from 2002 to 2014, Sabri discovered and honed his artistic talent, using painting as a profound means of coping with confinement. After fifteen years in Guantánamo, he was transferred to Kazakhstan — a country with which he had no prior ties and no legal status, where he remains under detention to this day. Despite these challenges, Sabri has continued to paint, using art as a refuge and a powerful form of resistance. The exhibition was accompanied by two insightful discussions: one led by Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver and Nil Samar, exploring the intersections of art, human rights, and global responsibility, and another featuring Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who shared his personal experience of imprisonment and life after detention.

Art bearing witness to dehumanisation

Sabri Al-Qurashi’s paintings, created under restrictive conditions, vividly illustrate the harsh realities of Guantánamo while reflecting the profound psychological and physical impact of indefinite detention. For Al-Qurashi, art emerged as a lifeline—a way to delve into his own experiences and assert his agency in a system designed to take it away. Though deeply personal in origin, his works transcend individual experience to achieve striking universality. As Nil Samar observed, many of Al-Qurashi’s paintings depict seemingly conventional subjects: still-life landscapes. Yet, these images take on a profound significance within the context of Guantánamo. What might seem ordinary or mundane to a free person becomes an unattainable dream — a yearning for normalcy, a desperate aspiration to hold onto dignity and selfhood. His human figures, often faceless or fragmented, reflect the systematic erasure endured by detainees, underscoring the dehumanization inherent in such carceral spaces.

The global stakes of carceral justice

Dr. Deepa Driver, an expert on whistleblowing and counterterrorism laws, examined the legal grey zones that sustain such detention centres. In the post-9/11 era, counterterrorism narratives have frequently been used to justify the expansion of global carceral structures, prompting concerns over their impact on human rights. Beyond Guantánamo, the event addressed the broader issue of carceral justice worldwide and the increasing dehumanisation within detention systems. Whether prisoners are guilty or innocent, institutional cruelty remains pervasive. A fundamental question emerged: should prisons function primarily as punitive institutions or as mechanisms for rehabilitation and reintegration?

Art as a catalyst for change

Art is not just a reflection of reality — it shapes how we perceive and engage with the world. The exhibition Art. Liberation. not only highlighted the enduring spirit of an individual but also demonstrated how artistic expression can challenge dominant narratives and inspire political action. Sabri Al-Qurashi’s journey invites deeper reflection on the interconnectedness of legal, political, and economic systems that define global power structures. The success of this exhibition in Paris paves the way for future events across Europe, amplifying voices that contest official histories and advocate for justice. Through the transformative power of art, dialogue, and collective engagement, we can foster empathy and advance towards a world where justice and accountability are tangible and unwavering.

Edited by Justine Peries.