“What’s happening in Gaza is beyond our comprehension – beyond the lowest form of cruelty – but not beyond our capacity to help.”
Renowned artist Paddy Campbell is displaying a bronze sculpture in Bewley’s Grafton Street in an effort to raise €20,000 for famine relief efforts.
The sculpture entitled “Al Di Là”, depicts a woman holding the world in her hands, to highlight how war in Gaza is affecting women and children. The artist’s hope is that visitors to Bewley’s will be moved to support the Gaza Famine Appeal by UNICEF, using a number of prominent QR codes at the café.
“As I was creating this piece a year ago, I was thinking about how destruction of our world is being targeted at women and children,” said Mr Campbell. “We feel frustrated and helpless – but as an artist, I feel I have a responsibility to move people to act with generosity. I’m hoping the sculpture I created will move people even a little bit and might, in this case, encourage them to make a contribution towards saving Gaza from further starvation and desolation.”
According to UNICEF, at least 50,000 have been reported killed or injured in the Gaza strip since 2023, while over half a million people are trapped in famine as food, water and medical aid remain out of reach.
“Men fight, but women and innocent children suffer the greatest burden of wars and terrorism”, Campbell says. “What’s happening in Gaza amounts to terrorism where the ultimate victims are women and innocent children. My sculpture, Al Di Là, means ‘beyond’ in English. The woman looks away, her face expressing grief, despair, terror, disgust, but not defeat. We’re far away from those people ‘beyond’ in Gaza and we have to get on with our lives. We try to carry our compassion around, as the woman holds the globe. When we think about that word ‘beyond’ – what’s happening in Gaza is beyond our comprehension – beyond the lowest form of cruelty – but not beyond our capacity to help.”
Highlighting the importance of the fundraising initiative, UNICEF Ireland Executive Director, Peter Power said, “Patrick’s sculpture is a deeply moving tribute to the strength and sorrow of mothers and children in Gaza, compassionately underscoring the human cost of this crisis. This support could not come at a more critical time for the people of Gaza. Every euro raised will help us reach more children with the urgent support they need.”
He added, “The scale of suffering in the Gaza Strip is truly catastrophic; over half a million people are enduring famine conditions with 320,000 children under five at risk of malnutrition. UNICEF is on the ground in Gaza, working tirelessly to deliver lifesaving support, including emergency therapeutic food for malnourished children, clean water and maternal and newborn health services.”
Throughout September, every tea and coffee sold on weekends in Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street will be matched by Bewley’s Grafton Street and donated to UNICEF. Alongside this, diners are invited to contribute directly on iDonate. Please support if you can.
To donate to UNICEF in aid of Gaza, visit here.
