The Art World Continues To Show Love For Palestine

It’s #freepalestine until Palestine is free

A ceasefire was implemented between Israel and Gaza on May 20 but that doesn’t mean an end to supporting Palestine. Activists are urging people more than ever to maintain the momentum, to keep protests going and never stop amplifying Palestinian voices until Palestine is free.

To help out, the art world has rallied up to push forward initiatives in solidarity of the war-torn nation, namely Alserkal Avenue. Kave, a cafe at the art space will be hosting a full-day event dedicated to Palestinian culture. From tatreez and baking to talks and book clubs, many activities and workshops are in store on May 29.

The cafe will also be serving street food from different parts of Palestine in celebration of their rich cuisine. You can sign up here.

Cinema Akil, also located in Alserkal, has put together ‘On Walls & Images’, an event to discuss data, the power of the still image and the capacity for empathy with a collective of creatives including photographer, journalist and educator Tanya Habjouqa, photographer Mohamed Somji, and cofounder of Visualizing Palestine organization Ramzi Jaber.

Palestinian artist Dima Srouji’s short film Sebastia will also be screened at the end of the one-day program on May 24. Sebastia explores a small archaeological town of the same name, located on top of a hill Northwest of Nablus in Palestine, which has been excavated multiple times over the last century.

Another key player in the regional art world, Art Jameel, is also contributing to the cause. Jameel Library has compiled a reading list featuring books about the history of Palestine and the Palestinian Struggle through the eyes and words of artists.

Entitled ‘On Palestine’, the selection includes titles like Palestine +100: Stories from a century after the Nakba by Basma Ghalayini, Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani and Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco.

If you’re an art lover, you will definitely like Emergeast’s fundraiser in support of hospitals in Gaza. The online art platform has put six digital prints, paintings and photographs honoring Palestinian heritage, up for sale.

Proceeds from the artworks by Palestinian artists Hazem Harb, Lena Kassicieh and Dana Barqawi, Iraqi painter Maysaloun Faraj, Syrian artist Sara Naim and Egyptian artist Beya Khalifa, will go to the Urgent Gaza Relief fund by Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. You can purchase the works here.

Another print sale to check out is by Turkish photographer Olgaç Bozalp. After his print sale in support of Lebanon’s explosion victims last August, Bozalp has now made available signed prints of the photograph ‘Flags’ from his 2019 series ‘Home: Leaving one for another’. All proceeds will benefit the Medical Aid for Palestinians charity.

Image: Olgaç Bozalp