Ghanem Diab Saeed Al Den

Born 1970 in Al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Gaza, Palestine

Displaced in Al-Nuseirat Camp

Dear Sir/Madam,

Hello, I’m Ghanem from Gaza. Through art and this exhibition, I offer you a carrot—a symbol of “nourishment”—as a gift for you to taste with passion and love. It bears no resemblance to the carrot associated with rockets or sticks. It has no political aim.

It is a rebellion against colonial policies targeting our humanity and dignity.

Remember, dear friend,

If the carrot was once associated with the stick and now with the rocket, it becomes demeaning. It is a bribe dipped in humiliation that does not befit us, so reject it.

The rocket and the carrot represent the ideology of colonial domination:

“Ration cards – Tents – Aid – Codes.”

Ghanem Al Den’s exhibition is constructed from notes, letters, and precise instructions towards the work’s installation. Working from his “tent-studio,” the production process is reflected in the subject matter. The work is an elaborate yet concise attempt to re-aestheticize politics in its most raw form. The cynical reality of the global order becomes deeply felt emotionally as Al Den literally brings politics inside our home. “I explore the relationship between political concepts and terms and the realities of living a dignified life under occupation. I examine how art plays its role amid wars and the suppression of human, social, and civil life in a seemingly civilized and silent world that conforms to colonial policies.”

The exhibition addresses political rationale and its impacts on humans under colonial policies, through a critical artistic lens. The installation has three exhibition halls: one main hall for an installation work, a second hall dedicated to digital art and photography, and a third hall presenting continuously looping video works.

Exhibition Notes, by Ghanem Diab Saeed Al Den:

The Carrot and Stick:

The carrot-and-stick* approach is a metaphor for using a combination of reward and punishment to encourage desired behavior in politics. Sometimes, the phrase refers to the concepts of “soft power” and “hard power.” In this context, the carrot may refer to economic or diplomatic aid, while the stick refers to military threats.

This expression originated in Europe, where it was used in taming mules and donkeys by holding a carrot in one hand and placing it in front of the donkey, while the stick was held in the other hand. The donkey would move forward to reach the carrot. If it resisted, the stick would be used. Some sources suggest another origin, where a carrot was tied to a stick and dangled in front of the donkey to keep it moving, thinking it would eventually reach the carrot.

The term has become widely used in political contexts and is considered derogatory when applied to those on the receiving end. The “stick” symbolizes punishment, and the “carrot” represents incentives. It is commonly heard in news reports and frequently used by political analysts. Do you know its true meaning?

The term refers to a strategy of offering a mixture of rewards and punishment to encourage certain behavior. The phrase likely stems from the image of a cart driver dangling a carrot in front of a mule, while holding a stick behind it. The mule moves toward the carrot to get the food, and avoids the stick to prevent pain. This method was used to tame mules in several countries. If the mule obeyed, it received the carrot; if not, it faced the stick.

This expression is often used in international relations to describe the concept of “hard power.” The carrot represents reduced taxes or other benefits, while the stick represents psychological violence or government threats.

The earliest recorded use of the phrase in the Oxford English Dictionary supplement dates back to The Economist in 1948, though an earlier mention was found in an Australian newspaper in 1947 and 1948, discussing post-WWII productivity. It also appeared in the American Daily Republic newspaper in February 1948, in an article discussing Russian economic policies.

*Definition and origin of expression gathered from Wikipedia

The Rocket and the Carrot:

When we reflect on what’s happening around us, we are drawn to ask: What is happening? Why is it happening? We may initially arrive at a partial answer, but most assumptions point to politics. As an artist, it is my right to oppose it, to protest against it, and to champion humanity at all times and places. It is my ethical and moral duty to say “Stop” to these insane policies that have placed humans at the bottom of the priority list, despite being the essence of the universe and the core of the entire world.

Art has existed with humanity since creation, speaking on its behalf, no matter its color or gender, and to be the ultimate expression of its rights, values, and emotions.

Therefore, art presents a contemplative reflection on the condition of submission and control, in relation to the concept of conflict and the controlling parties over people’s destinies. Being born in this part of the world, where we continue to endure the last occupation on Earth, it is important to discuss the policies used against oppressed and marginalized peoples with a clear and liberated voice.

We need to ask questions, branch out into more questions, and search for possible answers, hoping to reach some form of order.

What is the relationship between the policies imposed on oppressed and colonized peoples?

What are the boundaries of human freedom under oppressive and unjust policies?

What is the role of art in addressing such issues? And does neutrality mean acceptance of this reality?

Art serves as a means of protest and a reminder of the importance of addressing pressing issues visually, acting as a cognitive simulation to clarify concepts and perceptions.

The Rocket and the Carrot – An Introduction to Colonialism and Oppression Policies:

The rocket and the carrot represent the political strategies used in Palestine, the last occupied country in the world.

Here, the rocket replaces the stick, being far more destructive and brutal. The stick, once used by colonizers in the 1980s, has been replaced by a merciless rocket, often American or European-made and used by Israeli forces.

The rocket is now the tool of coercion in a world where the Arab nations live under constant fear, submission, and strength imposed upon them by American and Zionist forces. But Palestine and its people remain a thorn in the side of these policies, rejecting them. Neither the stick nor the carrot can subjugate a free people under occupation. However, colonial policies continue to evolve, offering rewards, financial grants, and privileges on one hand, while wielding threats and force on the other.

The Palestinian stands firm. Should they submit and accept the scraps, the carrot, while enduring the blows of the stick in the past and the rocket today, as they plow the land for others?

“No” is the powerful word the Palestinian said when offered the illusion of statehood and freedom in exchange for their life. They pay the price with deadly poison, the equivalent of the rocket, the stick, the bullet, and the burning fire… and so on.

The idea for this project came during the 2014 war. As the war is still the same and the policies remain unchanged, it is time for the artwork to see the light, with art protesting clearly and boldly without fear.