Ohad Matalon
“I captured this panorama at the border between Israel and Gaza. I believe that the foundation of peace can reside within the image itself – emerging from within the ruins and horrors of war. The flowers, instinctively turning toward the light – toward the sun, a symbol of knowledge and inner clarity – offer a quiet, unwavering gesture of hope. Their growth asserts itself not in denial of destruction, but in proximity to it: a silent uprising of life against the brokenness, the violence, and the loss.
This image is, for me, not a symbol, but a proposition – a visual meditation on what peace might begin to look like, even if only as a fragile potential. My gaze insists on seeing light and hope, even in places marked by destruction. I believe there is great value in insisting on a perspective that holds space for light, hope, and beauty alongside devastation and ruin.
It’s difficult to imagine peace at this moment, yet as an aspirational goal, holding onto the idea of peace can – and should – serve as a guiding force, even amidst the brutality of this horrific war. This vision may seem distant today, but I see no viable alternative. Two states with clearly defined and mutually recognized borders, in which each respects the territory and fundamental rights of the other’s citizens – freedom of movement, freedom of occupation, the right to vote and be elected, the right to live with dignity, and more. Over time, such conditions could enable people to believe in their ability to build lives not rooted in a narrative of conflict – not built on domination, defense, or retaliation – but instead centered on repair, healing, and ultimately, simply living peaceful, full lives.
The panorama consists of dozens of individual frames, carefully stitched together. I managed to complete the sequence precisely thirty seconds before the army apprehended me, detained me briefly, and subsequently expelled me from the border zone.”
Ohad Matalon was born in 1972. He is an artist based in Tel Aviv who works primarily in photography. He received his MFA at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in 2007 and teaches at Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem.
“Sunflowers, Nir Oz – Gaza”, 2024, panorama photography