John Halaka, a well respected Professor of Art at San Diego University, and himself an artist, kindly consented to come to Jerusalem and lead a workshop at al Hoash. The idea and theme of the workshop were suggested by John Halaka. During his research and teaching in America, John became interested in the concept of maps. This concept was explored not only as a tangible piece of paper, but as a part of our personal history, memories and dreams. John hoped to expand this idea with the artists in the workshop and work on the geopolitical aspect of mapping – i.e. how maps reflect through time, national identity, belonging and displacement. John Halaka and Al Hoash cooperated to select a list of artists who might be interested in participating in the work shop. The focus was mainly on young art students, or recent graduates, and even on those who had not had the luxury of formal art training but had talent and interest. This was done in order to give these young artists encouragement, and in order to promote young Palestinian artists’ work in an exhibition at the end of the workshop. For some of the artists involved, it was the first time they had exhibited their works. All together, eleven artists attended and participated in the week long workshop. Each day the session would last six hours, but the interest and enthusiasm of the artists, for the project and in John, compelled most of them to stay much longer and work their way through the night as their inspiration took over. The atmosphere during the workshop was very friendly and the artists were given all the material they needed in order to stay focused on their work. Some of the artists devoted themselves to one piece of work, while others were very prolific. One artist created 10 works of art, all very original and creative. At the end of the workshop, al Hoash along with John Halaka organized the exhibition for the students entitled dis/PLACE/ed. The opening of the exhibition was a large success, according to the response of the viewers and the artists. John Halaka was kind enough to present a visually illustrated lecture on his artwork entitled: Reflections on Desire and Denial. This featured among many others a slide of his drawing created with acrylic paints and rubber stamped prints of the phrase "Forgotten Survivors". It memorializes the Diaspora of the Palestinian people. It also challenges the wholesale historical revisionism which has sought to erase their history from memory. By maintaining the cultural anonymity of the figures, Halaka underscores the universality of political displacement and invites the viewer to project his or her own cultural history and responsibilities as oppressed, oppressor, or both onto the image. The dominant and reoccurring concerns that have informed his work over the past two decades are: the frailty and resiliency of the human condition; the impermanence of the corporeal; the uncertainty of knowledge; delusion, desire, denial and instability; cycles of repression and displacement; and a search for self-realization. The lecture was very interesting and generated many questions and comments from the audience. In addition, the young artists who worked with him were extremely appreciative of his guidance and instruction and were able to produce exceptional pieces conveying the Palestinians’ relationship to their land and the embodiment of their daily pain and torture through the simple background of an ordinary map, which was utilized as a canvas. The Board and administration at al-Hoash considered this activity outstandingly successful as it left a very positive impression on the target group of young Palestinian artists who were introduced to new mediums and art techniques and were also challenged to produce highly meaningful and impressive works.
Palestinian Art Court – al Hoash |