Echoes of the Oasis: Art, Activism, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future
Tunisian Youth Impact
Gabès, a city in southeastern Tunisia, was once a thriving oasis where nature and tradition wove an intricate dance of sustainability. Farmers cultivated the land with wisdom passed down through generations, artisans shaped raw materials into works of beauty, and fishermen lived in harmony with the rhythm of the sea. But that harmony was disrupted. In its place now stands the imposing Tunisian Chemical Group, an industrial giant with towering red-and-white chimneys that loom over the city like silent sentinels of a broken promise.
For the people of Gabès, the cost of modernisation has been devastating. The air is thick with pollutants, the soil poisoned, and the once-abundant waters now carry the scars of phosphate waste. A 2018 European Union study revealed that this single industrial complex is responsible for 95% of the city’s air pollution. The United Nations Environment Program has labelled Gabès a “pollution hotspot” of the Mediterranean. The consequences are written on the faces of its residents—respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and an ever-present worry about long-term health risks. While the chemical industry has provided jobs, it has also created a fragile economic dependency, stripping the city of its former self-sufficiency and discouraging handicrafts and agriculture.
Yet, amid this bleak landscape, a flicker of hope persists. Danseurs Citoyens Sud, a progressive youth movement, has emerged as a force for change. Founded as an independent association, it breathes life into marginalised areas through art and cultural expression. From within this association, No-Name EcoLab was born—a space where creativity and sustainability intersect. Led by Mohamed Amine Hamouda, head of the Visual Arts Department, its mission is to reclaim what has been discarded, to turn waste from the oasis into meaningful art, and to reignite a lost connection between people and their land.
This mission found an ally in the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme, and together, they imagined something extraordinary: a Boot Camp for Sustainable Creation. Designed to empower emerging artists, the initiative would explore ways to transform natural waste from the oasis into functional, everyday objects. From October 18th to 24th, six passionate participants embarked on a journey guided by Hamouda and a team of dedicated mentors.
Their journey began not in a classroom but in the heart of Gabès itself. They stepped into the nearly abandoned oasis, where towering palm trees whispered stories of resilience. They wandered through the local heritage museum, listened to artisans recalling a time when craftsmanship was a pillar of the economy, and strolled through the craftworks market, where the dwindling number of traditional makers fought to keep their skills alive. The air, thick with the scent of palm and dust, carried an unspoken challenge: could they find a way to revive what was being lost?
With some inspiration in their minds, the participants went to work. Over the next week, they designed and crafted 18 decorative light fixtures—objects that were more than mere lamps. They were statements of resistance, woven from Tartaka (palm fibres), Arjoun (palm branches), and Lif ; materials once cherished but now dismissed as agricultural waste. Each piece told a story of creativity and survival, of a city fighting to reclaim its identity.
On November 10th, their efforts culminated in an exhibition at NO NAME Artistic Studio Lab in Gabès. The space buzzed with energy as key stakeholders arrived—artisans, environmental activists, and cultural leaders, all eager to witness what these young visionaries had created. The jury, including Mr. Talal Sahmim, Director of the Creative Tunisia programme, Ms. Achwak Bechraoui, its Regional Coordinator, and designer Imen Charfi, faced the difficult task of selecting the most outstanding pieces. But the true success of the event lay beyond the competition.
As the exhibition unfolded, something remarkable happened. Craftwork professionals and artisans stepped forward, offering mentorship, workspaces, and resources to help these young creators refine their products. The director of Creative Tunisia took the initiative even further, facilitating their participation in the National Handicraft Exhibition in Tunis and an international exhibition in Milan between the 23rd and 26th of January 2025.
Through the No Name EcoLab, the works of the participants were showcased within the Green Circle by Raremood exhibition space, presenting innovative designs that merge Tunisian handicrafts with contemporary art.
What had begun as an experiment in sustainability had transformed into a movement, bridging the gap between local ingenuity and global recognition.
But this residency was never just about crafting objects. It was about rewriting the story of Gabès, about reclaiming the knowledge buried beneath layers of industrial dust. It was about honouring the resilience of nature and proving that progress does not have to come at the cost of destruction. Dancers citizens of the South, alongside these young artists, challenged the dominant narrative of industrial advancement, showing that alternative solutions exist.
They have also shown that creativity, tradition, and ecological responsibility can weave together a future worth fighting for.
A new story was being written in the heart of Gabès, where pollution and neglect threatened to erase history. And this time, the echoes of the oasis would not be silenced.
