Genocide Kitchen — by Samaa Emad
Amidst an ongoing genocide, this body of work by Samaa Abu Allaban portrays the resilience of Gaza's people as they fight for sustenance. Despite constant displacement, bombardment and the cutting off of food and aid, the people of Gaza show remarkable resourcefulness and a fierce will to live.
Amidst an ongoing genocide, this body of work by Samaa Emad portrays the resilience of Gaza's people as they fight for sustenance. Despite constant displacement, bombardment and the cutting off of food and aid, the people of Gaza show remarkable resourcefulness and a fierce will to live.
Listen while you read
Samaa, in her own voice.
A 52-second voice-note from Gaza — the artist walking through the kitchen and the pages behind it.
Using collage, these pages capture makeshift ovens, inventive cooking methods and communal meal preparations. Handwritten notes turn cooking and sharing into acts of resistance — underscoring that no matter the aggression they face, the Gazan spirit remains unbroken.
You will not use these recipes. I wrote them to let you feel how the people in Gaza cooked and ate during the genocide.
The cookbook, page by page — corner-grab to turn:
Constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms to evoke profound emotional depth and provoke critical reflection, Samaa's innovative approach to storytelling and visual representation has been shown in group exhibitions worldwide — including the Institut Français in Gaza (2021), the City Fragments group exhibition there in 2023, and the APOLIDÌA international exhibition in Mestre, Italy.
Samaa’s photographs are available as limited and open Editions through Gulf Photo Plus:
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