Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek, curator of the Oasis Art Gallery, writes:
In the month of October, I was in the process of returning art works to their owners. The “Us and Them” exhibition had been very meaningful and powerful, which made the ensuing need to stay close to an air raid shelter emotionally difficult. I had to set out on a journey of learning to choose the new works for the next exhibition.
Suddenly, a drastic event befell us – a huge one out of the series of them in the political conflict we are a part of. That event has only intensified, and it has still has not enabled us to return (to normality).
A few months have passed since that day, but it feels like long years, and I, like everyone else, am still shocked by what happened and is happening. Lots of crying, questions and concerns. Death and destruction encroach, and I try to take care of myself, my house and family, the village and, of course, the gallery.
In the first month of shock, I dragged myself to the gallery with deep concern. Little by little I worked on myself. I visited an art studio and began to express myself in painting, something that frustrated me. I started surfing the internet to find out what happens to artists and how some of them express themselves — silently, verbally and artistically – each in relation to their inner grief.
I started collecting information, for example, the names of artists who are living, as well as the names of those who have passed away, and the galleries that were damaged or destroyed, from the Gaza border to the Gaza strip.
And what about Palestinians and Jews from around Israel? I discovered a complete disconnect between artists of the two peoples. I came to feel the enormous fear and caution in self-expression among Palestinian artists as a result of the military regime to which we have returned. I discovered attitudes and expressions that I had never imagined coming from those Jewish artists. “Where are my friends?!” I cried out in great pain. I found some, of course, and stayed in contact with artists in the expectation that the easing up of restrictions and tension would bring them back to themselves, and for some of them it did.
From the opening of the “Them and Us” exhibit
The next exhibition
The devastating and ongoing war caused the contents, as well as the name, of the exhibition to be postponed and changed several times, until it was agreed to mount an exhibit expressing the impact of the war on artists and their work.
I have a deep belief that despite everything, the gallery will continue to function. We are not sure when the new exhibition will take place, and that’s fine. I might be able to hold an exhibition for Jews alone or for Palestinians alone, but I have a deep-seated feeling that the time is wrong for this: We must continue together, especially when we find ourselves in such an incredibly complex situation.
Meetings
I invested time and effort in planning a joint meeting that was to be held at the end of November. That meeting ended up being postponed, and did not take place. Towards the month of December, I once again put together a meeting – one with different, but similar contents. I posted the invitation, but again postponed due to lack of participants. I had personal contact with quite a few and sent others a personal invitation… That’s how I realized it was still too early. I knew that in other circumstances they would slowly begin to return to joint meetings, but not within this world of artists. Jewish artists continue to remain silent or else to express themselves out of the shock and great pain of October 7, and some of them do so at a very dignified and strong level. Palestinian artists are silent, or they do not publish what that they produce. Or else they express their feelings about this intensely difficult war with symbols or abstract paintings and not directly, avoiding depicting ruins, death and destruction. A very few are willing to take the risk to express, directly and strongly, what is happening in Gaza. They risk getting called in for investigation, and being labeled enemies.
It is telling, however, that some returned to participate in exhibitions of Jewish artists that include one Arab or vice versa.
Artist hosts artists
In collaboration with the art gallery in Umm El Fahm, a place that everyone already appreciates, there will be a meeting in which we will view the works that are displayed there, and then we will sit in uni-national dialogue groups led by a facilitator from the Peace School, followed by a bi-national discussion. I am hoping that more ideas for meetings will emerge from this event.
The gallery entrance is the site of openings and gallery events
The entryway
During this period, when emotions are at their peak, we will open the gallery entrance, and we will invite artists to continue to add to the works gracing the entrance to the gallery. Right now, it is necessary to focus on this place, which always speaks for itself, even when there is no exhibition inside. Maybe this will be one of the ways for artists to meet again, face to face, in real time.
Digging deeper
There was chaos all around us, and it was and continues to be a shock to all of us. But I believe that every experience has a meaning, including the grief and intense pain we experience.
There is no intention to postpone for the sake of postponement. I want to make changes to fit the new, evolving situation. The meeting around works of art or around ourselves allows open discussion; it allows the opening of new windows of awareness and curiosity. The responsibility for sanity is in the hands of all of us and my responsibility is to be the conduit for achieving the desired result. I don’t give up; but I have to act wisely. I still have the passion for this important project.
The gallery started with the intention of benefiting others. Right now, it needs restoration in order to survive and continue this important means of giving to others.
