An exhibition at Casa Árabe presents fifteen years of work by Palestinian-Canadian artist Rehab Nazzal, who photographed and filmed her journeys driving through the occupied Palestinian territories between 2010 and 2026. The show maps checkpoints, barriers and surveillance infrastructure encountered along the way, framing movement itself as central to daily life under occupation.
What it is
Curated by Stefan St-Laurent, 'Driving Through Palestine' gathers photographs, video and sound recorded by Nazzal as she drove across the occupied territories over a fifteen-year period. The material is organised around the roads themselves, tracking the signposts, checkpoints and physical barriers that shape how Palestinians move through their own territory.
The exhibition was produced with the Canada Council for the Arts, the SAW Centre in Ottawa and the Embassy of Canada in Madrid, and its Madrid opening coincides with the annual conference of the International Association for Middle East Studies (IAMES). Nazzal's wider practice spans photography, video, installation and sound art, and has previously examined military occupation, environmental damage and control over territory and movement.
Why it's worth attending
The project is the result of a single artist's fifteen years of access and travel across occupied Palestine, producing an unusually wide record of landscapes and everyday movement that's rarely documented on this scale. It combines photography, audiovisual material and testimony gathered directly on the roads Nazzal travelled, rather than through archival or secondary sources.
Practical info
The exhibition is shown in Casa Árabe's Sala de Columnas (Hall of Columns), on the basement level of the Madrid building on Calle de Alcalá. No ticket or booking is required, though the room has a capacity limit and can close to new visitors at busy times. The exhibition text and captions are in Spanish.
FAQ
What is Driving Through Palestine at Casa Árabe?
It's a free exhibition by Palestinian-Canadian artist Rehab Nazzal, combining photography, video and sound recorded while driving through the occupied Palestinian territories between 2010 and 2026. It's on show at Casa Árabe's Sala de Columnas in Madrid from 12 June to 18 October 2026.
Who is Rehab Nazzal?
Rehab Nazzal is a Palestinian-Canadian artist, researcher and scholar working across photography, video, installation and sound, whose practice focuses on military occupation, territorial control and the everyday experience of Palestinian communities.
Is the exhibition free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free until the room reaches capacity; no advance ticket or booking is needed.
Is Casa Árabe open in August?
No. Casa Árabe's exhibition space closes for the whole of August; the show reopens in September and runs until 18 October 2026.
Where is Casa Árabe in Madrid?
Casa Árabe's Madrid headquarters is at Calle de Alcalá, 62, with the exhibition in the Sala de Columnas on the basement level, open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 outside August.
