207 alestineJuly 2015

Arts and Culture We always talk about art and culture. The conversation ebbs and flows and most of the time we are not saying In this issue much. We struggle to define our artistic identity and wonder if we are forever confined in resistance and love Arts and Culture for a land always struggling. Maybe we don’t have to decide now. Maybe our art and culture is a daily redefining of our hope, and a space that constantly gives us the chance to decide who and what we are. This is what this issue of This Week of Palestine is trying to accomplish. We’ve

207 brought you contributors from all around the country to tell you about what 4 The Iconography of Fanous Ramadan July 2015 and culture is to them. Jamil Dababat writes about a little alleyway 10 The Accursed Thing alestine in where the secret of music is unraveled; Aline Khoury writes about the revival of a tile factory in Jerusalem where we are fighting for every inch; and Ali 14 Along the Path Qliebo explains the iconography of the famous Ramadan fanous that celebrates 22 The Secret of Music: The Soul’s Flow this holy month. In addition, there are lighter things like Quiz Night, which brings together people of all ages to experiment with knowledge, and many other articles 26 The Revival of a Jerusalem Tile that will shed light on the richness of our culture. Factory It is hard to believe how varied and different we are, and in a world that wants 32 Our Readers Say ... to put all humans into a mold of normalcy and routine, we awaken to fight our little battle to be exactly who we are. May we always be different, and may our 34 The Rising Tides of 21st-Century vastness set us free. Middle Eastern and Arabic Literary Voices Arts and Culture

38 Twenty Years of Quiz Night Cover: Hani Zurob, Flying Lesson # 9, 42 Al Manara Encounter Acrylic and Pigment on Canvas, 2011. Riyam Kafri-AbuLaban and Tala Abu Rahmeh Content Editors 44 Joubran: Three Heart-Charming Lutes 52 The First Steps

56 In the Limelight Telefax: +970/2 2-295 1262 62 Reviews [email protected] www.thisweekinpalestine.com 68 Events www.facebook.com/ ThisWeekInPalestine 70-86 Listings

85-97 Maps Publisher: Sani P. Meo Forthcoming Issues 98 The Last Word Art Director: Taisir Masrieh Graphic Designers: August 2015: Day in the Life of Shehadeh Louis September 2015: Sports in Palestine II Hassan Nasser October 2015: Being Palestinian Printed by: Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem Maps: Courtesy of PalMap - GSE The views presented in the articles do not necessarily reflect the Distribution in the : Advisory Board views of the publisher. Maps herein have been prepared solely for the convenience of CityExpress Dr. Mamdouh Aker Dr. Nabeel Kassis the reader; the designations and presentation of material do not Urologist Director of Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) imply any expression of opinion of This Week in Palestine, its publisher, editor, or its advisory board as to the legal status of any Vera Baboun Sami Khader country, territory, city, or area, or the authorities thereof, or as to Mayor of Director General of MA’AN Development Center the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation. Aref Hijjawi Nour Odeh Author and media expert CEO, Communications Consultancy 2 3 Along the Path 150 Years of Palestinian Art

Ibrahim Nubani, Cleopetra’s Perfume, Acrylic on Canvas, 2002.

By George Al Ama and Nada Atrash emerged during the eighteenth century and villages, including mother of pearl in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, and and olivewood inlaying and carving, the variety of Islamic art in the city of embroidery, and icon painting, in long the Path: Milestones in the Palestinian Art Movement from Jerusalem. During the past 150 years, addition to other handicrafts. the Collection of George Al Ama is an art exhibition that is being several stages in the history of Palestine This development is characterized hosted by Bank of Palestine/Bethlehem Branch. The exhibition have contributed to the formation and by a transformation in the manner of aims to shed light on the Palestinian art movement from development of an art movement that production – from simple repetitive the mid-nineteenth century onwards through a selection reflects the common state of the nation acts of artisans who produced works of more than forty pieces that represent the works of rather than the personal experiences of in order to meet the requirements of the several Palestinian artists. This article aims to review the the artists. market (whether for local consumption important milestones in the Palestinian art movement The emergence of Palestinian art or for tourists and visitors) to complex, based solely on the artworks that are exhibited in Along during the second half of the nineteenth the Path. individual acts that reflect an artist’s century came as a result of various tradition and personality, and that The Palestinian art movement emerged in Jerusalem during the socio-economic and geo-political result in a unique piece of art that second half of the nineteenth century. Two factors have played a transformations that affected the represents an experience or state that major role in this movement: the Arab Melkite icon school, which region, including the adoption of has affected the artist during the period the Ottoman Reform Edict of 1856, of its creation. The early pioneer artists which guaranteed equality in education in Palestinian art who are represented and government appointments, in Along the Path are Nicola Tadros, and administration of justice to all, Jiries Jawharieh, Nicola Saig, and regardless of creed. As a result of this Khalil Halaby. They began their careers decree, Christian missionaries gained as iconographers but also painted power and started to provide a number non-religious subjects. The art of this of services, including education and period was influenced essentially by the vocational training in various Palestinian techniques used in iconography. towns. In taking a closer look at the art of this period, one cannot fail to Another important element in the Samia Halaby, The notice that it represents a natural evolution of the Palestinian art Return of Spring, movement during the first half of the Acrylic on Canvas, development of the various handicrafts 1991. that were popular in Palestinian towns twentieth century is the fact that many 14 15 to address other issues that are not related to the Nakba. Laila Shawa’s work focused on the political realities, and became, in the process, a chronicle of the various events that affected Palestine. Mahmoud Taha chose to work with ceramics and Arabic calligraphy as a means to reflect Arab nationalism. Palestinian painter, draughtswoman, and engraver, Juliana Seraphim played a major role in the movement of parallel arts in Lebanon, including poster design. Khaled Hourani, Untitled, Mixed Media on Wood, 1997, The 1967 War and its aftermath, including the occupation of Jerusalem, have formed another tragedy for Palestine, but unlike the Nakba it has contributed to the formation of an art movement Abdel Rahman Al Muzayen , Intifada inside Palestine. Artists such as against Fascism, Ink on Taysir Sharaf, Abed Abdi, Bashir Paper, 1991. Al-Sinwar, and Walid Abu Shakra expressed their nostalgia – for Palestine before the occupation artists had the chance to study art movements. As a direct result of the – through paintings that abroad and come back to Palestine. Nakba, a diaspora art movement began depict the scenery of various Artists such as Sophie Halaby and Nahil to emerge; artists’ works reflected the Palestinian towns and villages. Bshara have reflected the European dramatic experiences of displacement Jerusalem, however, remained influence in their art, while Jamal and the occupation of Palestine. Ismail a subject that was addressed Badran and Fatima al-Muhib, having Shammout is known for depicting the by most artists. Other artists received their education in Egypt, have dramatic occupation of Palestine using of this period include Kamil Al Mughani, Abdel Rahman Al contributed to integrating elements the image of a Palestinian woman. His Bashir Sinwar, Sacrifice, Oil on Canvas, 1982. of Islamic art in their works. These artworks represent anger, struggle, fear, Muzayen, and Fathi Ghaben various artists revealed the search for and hope of return. Artworks that reveal from Gaza, and Nabil Anani Palestinian identity in artworks that nostalgia for life in Palestine before the and Sliman Mansour from the the Palestinian Liberation Organization played reflect the spirit of their time and specific Nakba include those by the self-taught West Bank. The works of these an important role in promoting Palestinian context. Here it is worth mentioning artist Abdul Hai Musallam and Ibrahim artists focus on resistance, art as an art of resistance, or rather in that writer and art critic Jabra Ibrahim Hazimeh, who depicted Palestinian representations of Palestine as promoting Palestinian art to raise public Jabra played an important role in towns and villages. oppressed women and martyrs, awareness worldwide about the Palestinian the formation of the Arts Club at the and portraits of Palestinian cause. Moreover the bureau organized several Other representations of the Palestinian women and the village scenery. exhibitions in the Arab world, Europe, and YMCA in Jerusalem. Jabra also made struggle and dream appear in the a significant contribution to the body During the same period, Kamal beyond to reflect the cultural life in Palestine artworks of Mustafa Al-Hallaj, whose Boullata used Arabic calligraphy and draw attention to the Palestinian cause. of Palestinian contemporary artworks works evoke Egyptian, Greek, and created before 1948. and geometry to stress Arab As a result, the works of this period are Roman mythology within a matrix that belonging in Palestine. considered an introduction to Palestinian art The Palestinian Nakba in 1948 and represents the aspirations towards a on an international level. the rapid succession of events in its free Palestine. Al-Hallaj used masonite- During the 1980s, the aftermath undoubtedly left their mark on cut and print on board as a means of reproduction of artworks by Other artists started to use various techniques the various aspects of life in Palestine, presenting his art. During the same these artists and others by the and materials to address diverse topics including the literary and artistic period, several Palestinian artists chose Unified Information Bureau of related to the Palestinian reality – aspirations 16 17 and Vera Tamari, sought to introduce which the character roams the world in locally made media to replace the search of the rose of love. Israeli products that were used in art While several other contemporary production. Anani used leather and artists who live in the West Bank and wood, Mansour used mud, Barakat Gaza experiment with different themes used wood, and Tamari used clay to and techniques to express their hopes produce artworks that followed the for a brighter future, the search for Palestinian steps in boycotting Israel. identity has remained the major topic of The Oslo Accords and their aftermath Palestinian artists living in Israel, such directly contributed to the emergence as Ahmed Canaan and Rana Bishara. of a young art movement in the West For artists living abroad, such as Hani Bank and . Artists started Zourob and Bashir Makhoul, resistance to highlight issues other than land and and hope for a brighter future for resistance. These movements came Palestine have become the main focus. as a direct result of the establishment Moreover, the aftermath of the second of several academic institutions that Intifada, which began in September focused on visual arts as a major subject 2000, has been a turning point in the of study. Khaled Hourani has had a vital use of art as a powerful tool to promote influence in the growth of contemporary the Palestinian cause around the world. art in Palestine, and his artistic practice often responds to the surrealism and The art exhibition at the Bethlehem Sliman Mansour, The comic absurdity of current events. His branch of Bank of Palestine is a Village Awakens, Oil on direct result of the bank’s belief in the Canvas, 1987. late brother Hassan Hourani passed away while working on his whimsical importance of cultural life in Palestine; children’s book, Hassan Everywhere, in the art exhibition is part of a larger and nostalgia for village life before the The same period has also witnessed a occupation of Palestine. Khalil Rayan parallel art movement that is centered used bronze to sculpt figures and on the search for identity on the subjects of Palestinian life, and Vera part of Arab artists living in Israel, Tamari went beyond representation including such artists as Juhaina in using ceramic as a tool to express Habibi Kandalaft, Asad Azi, Ibrahim the deliberate aggressiveness and Al-Nubani, and Ahmed Canaan. A sense injustice that the have to of alienation, dispossession, and lack continuously face. of belonging has pushed these artists During the same period, other artists to find the balance of the juxtaposition were working from the diaspora. they were experiencing in various Although artists of this period tended representations that include the village, to use materials and techniques that the agricultural fields, and village life. differed from those used by artists Despite his early death at the age of living inside Palestine, their artworks 29 in 1990, Asim Abu Shakra, another formed strong statements that reflect important artist who lived in Israel, the various events of the occupation highlighted the role of the cactus plant, of Palestine and their memories of life which grew to designate territorial there. Samira Badran disfigures her borders in peasant villages as a symbol own photographs and uses collage and of resistance and identity. ink and watercolors to create artwork Many believe that the Palestinian that reveals anger and turbulence – a art movement played an important reflection on the psychological state role in the shaping of the resistance of Palestinians under occupation. In during the first Intifada that began in another example, Nasser Soumi creates 1987. The Experimental Innovation Samira Badran, Gate installations through the transformation movement, initiated by Nabil Anani, of Jerusalem, Mixed of ordinary materials into art objects. Sliman Mansour, Tayseer Barakat, Media on Paper, 1993. 18 19 Khalil Halaby, Dome of the Rock, Oil on Wood, c. 1930. project through which the bank aims to the bank’s consultant in art and culture. build an art collection that represents Along the Path is co-curated by artist the art movement in Palestine. Along Amer Shomali and researcher George the Path: Milestones in the Palestinian Al Ama. The opening of the exhibition Art Movement from the Collection will take place in August 2015. of George Al Ama is a result of the cooperation between Bank of Palestine George Al Ama and Nada Atrash are and the Palestinian researcher and researchers on Palestinian cultural collector George Al Ama, who is also heritage and art.

Abed Abdi, Houses in Wadi en-Nisnas, Oil on Canvas, 1988. 20