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 Palestinian art and culture is to them. Jamil Dababat writes about a little alleyway 10 The Accursed Thing alestine in Nablus 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 Art Director: Taisir Masrieh 98 The Last Word 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 West Bank: 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 Bethlehem 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.