THE PENALTY
The story of this work is about the historical conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Two children, around 7 or 8 years old, one Israeli and one Palestinian, are fighting their own battle in a soccer match. The children completely disregard the conflict, their flags, their ideologies, their traumas and experiences, and simply have fun playing ball, even though they are doing so in a hostile environment.
Their war at that moment is to compete and win their particular duel against their rival.
In a play, the Israeli boy trips the Palestinian boy, knocking him to the ground. He committed a clear foul and, consequently, a penalty (hence the title of the work). Both agree, no one protests, and for the first time they only hear silence.
The Israeli boy, with complete sportsmanship, accepts his mistake and, extending his hands, helps the Palestinian boy, who was sitting on the ground, to get up. A little incredulous and with a compassionate, sweet, and friendly exchange of glances, they shake hands as a sign of peace and fair play.
An exemplary gesture that highlights human values such as justice, equality, solidarity, and respect for others.
The metaphor is completely peaceful, representing an agreement and reconciliation between both flags, a ceasefire, a message of peace and universal love.
The scene of these two brave “footballers” is surrounded by white doves forming a heart to give life, harmony, and movement to the mural, and where one of them poses on top of the ball as if it were the referee and with its usual authority makes its intentions clear: humanity, peace, and love must prevail in the world above all else.
The rose also appears in the work in the upper part, held by the beak of a dove as a symbol of love, respect, passion, and brotherhood for life.
A clean, emotional message full of sensitivity that gives off a special energy to the environment and where the only purpose is to give peace a chance and manifest it through this image that is so powerful and simple at the same time.
The result in the end was the least important thing, and the penalty will never be known if it was scored or missed.
“GIVE PEACE A CHANCE”
Location: Carrer de Sant Pere Més Baix, 98, Ciutat Vella
📷 @cristina.modi
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