“My first solo exhibition at Wannsee Contemporary is a personal observation of the tensions between entities and their associations, between individuals and groups. As this study has progressed, my personal connection to its subject matter has grown stronger. The concept of “diverging” or “straying” embodies a dual nature for me – a moment of detachment and connection simultaneously. Like a tree branch dividing into two, leading to further branches. This dynamic and movement are the focal points of my investigation within this exhibition.

I trace this movement from the very essence of the tree to its fruition, and then back from the hanging fruit through the branch to the root, and so forth. In examining the various instances of branching out – whether in a social context where an individual separates from a group; or in a scientific context where one species diverges from another – I aim to comprehend the mechanisms underlying branching. I seek to understand its triggers and the associated costs. 

Recently, this project, which was intended to provide me an “overlook,” has delved into deeply personal realms. It engages with the intricate interplay of my experience – as a Palestinian within an Israeli environment and as a queer person within Palestinian society. I find myself traversing these “branches”, closely scrutinizing the elements that lead me to the terminus of a branch, where I must choose between further branching or complete detachment. It’s a profound realization that once gravity severs me from the branch, there’s no path of return.

I explore literature, poetry, and mythology, reestablishing connections between various elements. This involves drawing parallelisms – one being a logical connection while the other carrying a playful undertone. I link the symbolic significance of the apple as portrayed in folklore with the symbolism I’m constructing here. Among the volley of standardization burdening a fruit, and among all individuals – the “strange birds” and the “bad apples” – I ponder what transpires once they become alienated within their respective groups. Will they sever connections or remain? And if they do remain, where will they find their place?”

         – Muhammad Toukhy