TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Taysir Batniji

Taysir Batniji (b. 1966, Gaza) is a Palestinian multidisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of displacement, identity, and the psychological effects of conflict. His practice encompasses photography, video, drawing, installation, and performance, often reflecting on personal experiences and broader socio-political issues.

Born in Gaza just before the 1967 war, Batniji studied fine arts at An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine. In 1994, he received a fellowship to study at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Art de Bourges in France, where he later obtained his Diplôme National Supérieur d'Expression Plastique (DNSEP). He has since divided his time between France and Palestine, developing a practice that bridges these two cultures

Batniji's work often addresses the impermanence and fragility of life, drawing inspiration from both his personal story and current events. His approach involves distancing, diverting, stretching, and conceptualizing initial subjects, offering poetic and sometimes critical perspectives on reality

His notable series include *Watchtowers* (2008), featuring black-and-white photographs of Israeli watchtowers on the West Bank; *To My Brother* (2012–2020), a series of 60 inkless drawings etched on paper commemorating his brother's death during the First Intifada; and *Disruptions* (2015–2017), consisting of pixelated screenshots from WhatsApp video calls during periods of violence.

Batniji has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (2003, 2009, 2011), the Berlin Biennale (2022), and the 17th Lyon Biennale (2024). His works are held in prestigious collections such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the V&A Museum in London, and the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.

For more information on his work and exhibitions, you can visit his official website: https://www.taysirbatniji.com

Related works in the collection

Taysir Batniji
GH0809 (n°25), 2009

Taysir Batniji
GH0809 (n°7), 2009

Atopia – Migration, Heritage and Placelessness
August 10–September 29, 2016 | Centro Cultural Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador

Atopia – Migration, Heritage and Placelessness May 14–October 5, 2014 | MAZ, Guadalajara, Mexico

Atopia – Migration, Heritage and PlacelessnessAugust 16–November 26, 2017 | Museo de ArteContemporáneo, Lima, Peru