Rehaf Al Batniji: Artist in residence

Rehaf Al Batniji, a photographer and visual artist from Gaza City, captures the vitality, resilience and complexity of life in Gaza. Her first solo exhibition took place in the garden behind her house in Gaza. Since then, she has exhibited internationally at venues such as Farc Gallery in Metz, Arles, the Institut du Monde Arabe, Gulf Photo Plus, and the Navy Officers’ Club at the 2024 Venice Biennale. Drawing on her personal experiences, she draws inspiration from the cultural and social memory of Gaza, where she once taught photography and drawing to young people.

Through her projects, Al Batniji navigates the intersection of photography, archival material, and documentary practice, questioning the role of the image in preserving identities that are constantly under threat. In Original Copy—a photographic archive spanning a decade—she explores how ordinary photographs in Gaza become urgent documents that capture life in a place where time is constantly fragmented by violence and loss. The series Fables of the Sea depicts the ecosystem along the Gazan coast, where the sea, once a refuge, has become a contested place marked by survival and uncertainty. During her residency at Kin, she is developing work for a forthcoming group exhibition at the museum.

Artists in residence 2026

In 2026, artists Bernd Krauß, Mikhail Tolmachev, Rehaf Al Batniji, Simon Ferner, Eleonora Edreva, and Oyjon Khayrullaeva will spend time in Kiruna and Norrbotten conducting research, producing work, and collaborating on upcoming exhibitions and projects at Kin.

Bernd Krauß is developing his solo exhibition at the Art Workshop and will also lead the art camp during the winter break. Mikhail Tolmachev is continuing his work on the multi-year project Borg Mesch: A Photographer in Sápmi during the Colonial Period and is participating in the exhibition The Use of Photography: Borg Mesch, Hans-Olof Utsi, and Mikhail Tolmachev. Rehaf Al Batniji is preparing to participate in a group exhibition and conducting new research during his stay.

Simon Ferner is continuing his long-term work on mining history and the interlinked stories of LKAB in Kiruna, Grängesberg, and LAMCO in Liberia. Eleonora Edreva and Oyjon Khayrullaeva are focusing on local craft and knowledge traditions, with a particular interest in plant dyeing, health, and folk medicine, as part of their contributions to upcoming group exhibitions.

Read more about all the artists in residence at Kin 2026 here.

Image 1: Rehaf Al Batniji, The Tread Connecting The City
Image 2: Rehaf Al Batniji, Blue skin