Sunday, October 3, 2010

The Emergence of Exhaustion

The theme of Exhaustion was palpable after just three venues on the opening walk of the 4th Jerusalem Show. Reviews of work at the eight other venues and of special performances and film screenings are to follow but first a brief summary.

Eighteen Palestinian and international artists were invited by Al Mamal to think through the theme of Exhaustion in the context of the city and its environment, and to produce work that explored issues involved in this condition and feeling which afflicts the whole of Palestinian society and is palpable in Jerusalem particularly. In addition, 11 young Palestinian artists were commissioned by Palestinian Art Court, Al Hoash to produce new artworks to be presented in the framework of the Jerusalem Show. Jumana Abboud and Jack Persekian drafted an outline of what Exhaustion meant in the context and sent this to selected artists asking them to respond. They were already aware of the existing work of some artists that would fit very well with the theme and in some cases these specific works were requested.
The theme for the Jerusalem Show IV-2010 is inspired by the prevailing state of apathy, anger, helplessness, docility and alienation in one’s own town. Exhaustion describes best the widespread feeling amongst the majority of the inhabitants of the city. Be it the closure, the lack of any viable solution or even a political horizon, the crumbling economic conditions, the closing in of Palestinian residents through an orchestrated policy of confiscation, demolition, fines and taxation, all contribute to a state of insecurity and fear of the future. Nothing is offered, given or provided hence people revert to snatch, grab, jump the line, and most importantly break the atrocious laws, any laws even those that govern human relations. All this calls for some investigation, some probing and possibly uncovering and betrayal. (Al Ma'mal, Invitaton to artists, 2010) 

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