Wandering Stones

What do you see when you see me?
A stone, an ancient topographic marker, rests within the design of the earth, still, solid, and familiar. It is something we may pass by or step over without noticing. Yet the stone carries experiences that shape its form and features, telling its stories across time... much like a human being, whose life journey carves the contours of their character and presence. 
By gilding these silent, forgotten stones from our world, created by a collective of local young Palestinian artists, the installation invites you to perceive the invisible, to reconsider what is so often overlooked. Scattered across the terrace, the stones break away from their geological origins to enter a new symbolic life; glistening not only as treasures, but as reminders of a deeper meaning. Value begins in attention, and glows when we choose to see.
The gilded stones, carefully placed on the main terrace of the A. M. Qattan Foundation, stand as metaphors for uprooted and displaced lives. Yet they also embody transformation, movement, and the refusal to remain fixed. Because the stones are not anchored, the installation draws its power from this very tension: the stone, which traditionally symbolises permanence and rootedness, is compelled to wanders, evoking a paradox that unsettles the familiar and provokes reflection.
The artwork as a whole is rich and multi-layered, saturated with symbolism and philosophical inquiry. At the same time, it resonates with precise geological references. Each angle from which the viewer observes the gilded stone reflects a different face back; serving as a mirror to what they see in themselves. 
The participants of The Midas Touch residency, trained at the Visual Arts Forum in its branch in the Old Town of Kufr Aqab, have mastered the delicate craft of traditional gilding under the guidance of the Dutch artist Aljohara “Gigi”. Here, they apply their skills in a meaningful artistic gesture for the public. Each gilded stone stands as a testament to their precision, their presence, and the quiet creative transformation of matter into meaning, offering a living example of collective art in public space, leaving open the question: 
What do you see when you see me?
Artists: Ahmed Sadeya, Amal Shamasnah, Batool Muadi, Carmel Khalil, Layan Halawa, Mariam Aqil, Masa Demaide, Nader Asmar, Natal Khasib, Salsabeel Abu Saif.
Led by the Artist: AlJohara “Gigi” under the Visual Arts Forum (VAF) “The Midas Touch” Residency performed at VAF’s branch in the Old Town of Kufr Aqab. Organized by Deema Ershaid the Director of the Visual Arts Forum. Hosted by the A.M. Al-Qattan Foundation.