Gaza’s New “Lost Legs” Exhibit
Khaled Hussein (46) has turned a painful reality into a striking art show, calling it I Miss You Very Much. The artist’s life‑sized clay creations grab your attention and, frankly, make you feel the loss that many amputees experience day after day.
Why the Focus on Limbs?
- Amputations are all too common in Gaza—at least 1,600 people out of 2 million, according to the Red Cross.
- A local charity reports 532 members who’ve jettisoned a limb because of the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Hussein says he’s “wanted to shine a light on something that’s become almost a national norm.”
What ‘Miss You’ Looks Like
Seven life‑sized sculptures have already hit the walls of a small gallery. Each piece begins as a clay shell, then gets cast in material like bronze—creating a staggering, almost ghost‑like presence.
- Two plates of legs stand side‑by‑side. One toes gently curl over the other, like a shy shy‑shy dance.
- A naked foot peeks out from beneath a worn rug, as if it’s trying to stay warm and still be noticed.
- A single leg mirrors itself against a reflective surface, nodding to a therapy trick that helps amputees “see” problems in missing limbs.
Feel the Art, Not Just Watch It
Because the gallery space is so compact, each skeleton-like figure looks bigger than it actually is—making viewers feel weight and pressure as if the missing limb were directly in front of them. It’s hard to walk away after seeing just one piece.
Final Word
Hussein’s exhibit isn’t just a showcase; it’s a cry, a sob, and a dash of humor—all wrapped into one. “I Miss You Very Much” pulls the invisible pain of amputees into plain view, and, in doing so, gives a call to action for a more compassionate future.
Hussein’s Art: Turning Pain into Powerful Protest
Hussein’s latest series isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a visual shout‑out to the folks who’ve hurt in the 2018‑19 Gaza‑Israel border protests. That strip of land, tightly guarded by Israeli forces, belongs to the Islamist Hamas‑run Palestinian zone. According to local health officials, at least 200 people lost their lives and thousands got wounded. UN investigators even found that more than 120 folks had limbs amputated.
Israel says its soldiers opened fire to defend the border from incursions by armed militants, while Hussein’s work cuts across all that. His sculptures literally show the loss of a limb—no matter who or what caused it. One piece, for instance, features the left leg that Ahmed Abu Daqen, a 21‑year‑old, lost in a car wreck as a kid.
- Ahmed, who now plays on an amputees’ soccer team, says:
“I didn’t expect someone would take what I’ve lost and turn it into art that tells the world,” he keeps, “but here it is.”
- He adds, “I’ve shown my community that I have ambitions and dreams, and I can make them happen.”
So whether it’s a missing arm, a lost leg, or a broken heartbeat, Hussein’s pieces remind us that every body that suffers is a story worth telling. And hey, if art can turn trauma into triumph, who’s to say it can’t bring a chuckle or two while making a serious point?
