The mirroring and shifting effect
This painting was first exhibited in 2010 at the David Zwirner Gallery in New York in an exhibition named ‘Against the Wall.’ The painting shows a group of men raising their hands in front of a wall. The artwork was derived from a photograph of Israeli soldiers searching Palestinian men in front of a stone wall. However, the painting focuses on a cropped section of the whole image without the soldiers being covered. By eliminating the soldiers, Dumas changes the meaning of the picture and ensures the anonymity of her subjects. For instance, the ordinary wall shifts from a place of potential arrest or execution, into perhaps the Wailing Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Also, the Palestinians probably change visually into Israelis.
The mirroring and shifting effect brings a visual connection between the two nations, thus suggesting that they share a similar situation in their sufferings, anger, and religious fanaticism. The anonymous or unidentified men raising hands indicate that both sides are facing similar human experiences. Therefore, the piece of work shows a symbol of universal suffering, rather than personal or individual suffering during conflicts or war. Also, Duma’s work shows how the press and mass media use the power of images to manipulate us, especially during conflicts. She shows how easily people are influenced by imagery, positioning herself as the manipulator.