
Smuggled Sperm III
1992 - Present
Description
My work focuses on small living organisms (microscopic beings) that may not be visible to the naked eye, even though they determine the very existence of life. Many people overlook them, yet they are among the most important means of defense in situations where one is not allowed to use weapons to defend oneself—especially when a person is behind bars. These delicate organisms play a very significant role in sustaining the lives of those imprisoned in occupation prisons and sentenced to life imprisonment as a result of the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and the occupation.
Presenting the idea of existence and clinging to hope through something as small as these microscopic organisms invites reflection on the importance of this process—the smuggling of sperm from behind bars using unimaginable and seemingly absurd tools that nonetheless carry high symbolic and emotional value, such as chocolate wrappers, chips bags, matchsticks, and the like. This journey moves from behind the bars, to the womb, to formation, becoming a child, growing up, and eventually becoming an active member of society. This process represents the creation of a new kind of legacy and a continuation of a cause that began 74 years ago and continues to this day.
Preservation Notes
Smuggled sperm collection. We have retained these digital images directly from Mariam Salah. These works have all been destroyed in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, circa 2023-2026. We are still actively investigating and will be adding additional information during our discovery and findings through out the life span of this archived preserved art work from Mariam Salah.