Black leather booties with a red sole and a wedge heel built from rubble, a statement piece born from tragedy and courage, 2025.
Haverman: ‘This pair of shoes is named after Hind Khoudary, a journalist who chose to remain in Gaza so that the truth could be shown to the world. This work is an ode to her bravery.
The upper represents the West: black for the closed eyes and the silence surrounding the ongoing genocide; gold for the wealth and privilege that make such atrocities possible. A deliberate void symbolises the way the West withdraws its hands, distancing itself from the very violence it sustains.
The red sole embodies the genocide itself—the blood of countless victims. At first glance, the West appears to float, untouched. Yet on closer inspection, it is clear that all its weight is pressing down upon that sole.
The wedge heel is built from rubble, representing Gaza in ruins, filled with shattered homes and broken buildings.’
Photos by René van den Berg Academy.
