Palestinian Art after the Nakba

The presentation explores Palestinians’ representations in visual art of the existential crisis they faced following the destruction of Palestinian society during the 1948 War, known as the Nakba. It also delves on how this colossal event has been conveyed artistically, and discusses artworks that revolve around Palestinians’ subsequent states of being. In particular, it assesses how various motifs were used to convey varied, and even opposite, states of being and consciousness, as well as survival strategies, that go beyond commonplace views and perceptions about Palestinians. Moreover, this presentation discusses how the allegorical language of these artworks augments their meanings and might open a window into the world of the Palestinians, who lack archives, official historical narratives, and institutions of remembrance.