The International Center of Bethlehem, in cooperation with Al-ma'mal
Foundation for Contemporary Art, had hosted an intensive contemporary art
workshop between May, 2nd and June, 20th. The workshop, which was conducted by
Faten Nastas, a young artist from Bethlehem and the ICB’s art coordinator, was
supported by the Tamkeen project. The workshop targeted the youth from different
areas in the Bethlehem District.
The
youth of Bethlehem have lived through very difficult situations for almost three
years now. They went through terrible moments which affected their lives in so
many ways. But children and youth, in general, seem to have a great ability to
overcome the dreadful circumstances. They do not let fear control their dreams
and they do not allow bad circumstances stop in the way of their dreams and
hopes. They have deep sense and pure expressions. In spite of what they lived
through from violence, invasions, gunshots, curfews, deprivation, pain, and
death of their beloved ones, they did not use the language of violence in their
work but their works shown deep expressions and a variety of views. They were
able to explode their anger in an indirect way, to overcome their fear and to
include feelings of hope and optimism into their works.
Each
and every one of the participants expressed his/her feelings and thoughts in
his/her own way. All their art works are the outcome of true stories and
experiences that were inside each one of them.
Through the workshop of modern art, the youth found a new way to express what
goes inside their hearts in a work of art in a modern artistic way. Some of them
used the language of installation, and some used the video while others used
photography, drawings, and carving.
But in spite of the variety in using the means or even in their backgrounds,
the works of art reflect the Palestinian situation and the psychology of the
youth today.
The team of three, Rana Kuncar, Nida Owienaeh and Afif
Hanouneh, present the personality of an artist, musician, and lover who happens
to be in prison for no crime that he committed. They show us some of the letters
that he wrote to his sweet heart that were never mailed to her. They also try to
present what was going through his mind, thoughts and parts of the music that he
still remembers.
Rawan
Gedeon presents a video film about the harvest, as she had experienced it. It is
the image of the harvest in the Holy Land.
Dalia Derieh composes a video showing a struggle. But, is it a struggle for
survival, or between being captured and having a will and desire for freedom, or
is it the struggle of children trying to enjoy their innocent childhood?
Young Fuad Ghattas has hope that his dreams will come true.
So, he installs a work, which resembles the confession chair that has a ray of
light coming through it. He asks all the visitors to add their wishes to his
own, hoping that together they may come true.
The
two young ladies, Carmen Ghattas and Rinad Alayyan, compose a prayer for mercy
to the Lord of the Skies
Young Azizeh Gazaleh chose to preserve some of the
Palestinian traditional architecture. So, using oil colours, she paints one of
the beautiful traditional gates from a quarter in her hometown Beit Jala.
Ali Qaraqe, another young artist, is moved by the theme of Place as well. He
keeps the relics of his grandparents and he shows the inaccessible ruins of the
1948 Disaster. However, he is also very proud of his current home in the refugee
camp. Thus, he photographs the camp of Beit Gibreen and presents it as the place
where he was born and raised, the place that he loves and is proud of.
Another participant from the refugee camp, Mamdooh Daadara,
presents us with the unfair situation of the woman in the Arab society. Next to
the story, he adds two expressive drawings.
Finally, we find Richard Ja’ar and Irene Ghattas marvelling about the gift of
life. They present the cycle of life as a wheat seed.
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The
youth of Bethlehem have lived through very difficult situations for almost three
years now. They went through terrible moments which affected their lives in so
many ways. But children and youth, in general, seem to have a great ability to
overcome the dreadful circumstances. They do not let fear control their dreams
and they do not allow bad circumstances stop in the way of their dreams and
hopes. They have deep sense and pure expressions. In spite of what they lived
through from violence, invasions, gunshots, curfews, deprivation, pain, and
death of their beloved ones, they did not use the language of violence in their
work but their works shown deep expressions and a variety of views. They were
able to explode their anger in an indirect way, to overcome their fear and to
include feelings of hope and optimism into their works.
