My name is Hamada Alqabat (artist name: Hamada Elkept). I am a visual artist from Gaza and currently based in Belgium, where I arrived after receiving an art scholarship shortly before the war began.
I grew up in a family deeply connected to arts and crafts, where creativity was part of everyday life. Some members of my family practiced Arabic calligraphy, drawing, design, hand-weaving, and photography. This artistic environment shaped my relationship with art from an early age and led me to pursue a path as an artist.
Before the war, my family lived in a beautiful house surrounded by a garden in Gaza. We also owned several stores in the city, including businesses specializing in paints, building materials, and household goods, which were the main source of income for our family.
During the war, our home was completely destroyed, and the entire neighborhood where we lived was devastated and is now under Israeli military control. Our family businesses were also lost. Since then, my family has been displaced to the south of Gaza, where they are living in extremely difficult conditions.
I am currently working to rebuild my artistic practice in Belgium after losing my studio and all the artworks I had created in Gaza. As an artist, my work is the only way I can support myself and help my family during this time.
The funds raised will help me continue my artistic work and provide essential support for my family so they can maintain a basic and dignified life in Gaza.
In addition, my family continues to organize cultural and artistic initiatives in Gaza to support the local community, especially children. One of these initiatives is “Camp Cinema,” a project that creates a simple space where children living in displacement camps can gather and watch films together. From Belgium, I help organize and coordinate these initiatives.
By supporting my work, you are helping me continue my artistic journey while also helping my family maintain stability and hope during an extremely difficult time.