Wahat al-Salam - Neve ShalomHome > Oasis of Peace > Projects & Outreach > Art Gallery > Refugee Exhibition at the Gallery
Refugee Exhibition at the Gallery
Thursday 11 October 2018
The Oasis Art Gallery hosted an exhibition around the complex, urgent and timely issue of refugees.
Artists: Asad Azi | Eitan Altman | Bila Berg | Abed Abdi
From the invitation:
The experience of refugees is a long journey that never ends. Refugees have been present throughout history and on all continents.
In our own time and place we see the lingering effects of the Shoah and its aftermath; the endless Nakba. We see the rapidly growing number of refugees who flee wars, hunger, exploitation or simply seek a better livelihood. Some succeed; others lose their lives in the attempt.
Some of artworks connect us to peoples, events, historical or social periods. Some of the artists are themselves refugees, or have experienced wars, expulsion, persecution, or other experiences that have given them special sensitivity. The influence of the refugee experience upon the artists is sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious. For some of the artists, artistic expression is a kind of occupational therapy that can help free them of a trauma or crisis they have encountered. Some are trying to erase or ignore their experience; others are deliberately or indirectly attempting to relate, express, identify or belong to the experience.
The artists express themselves in a variety of media and touch on a wide range of issues: political, social, personal, psychological and mental.
Individuals and peoples have the right to a decent life in their own country or any place they choose to live on earth.
Let’s promote political, social and humanitarian solutions for all!
The exhibition ran from August 1 to October 11. The opening day was timed to allow many visitors who were attending the Swiss National Day in the village to attend. These included the ambassador, staff from the embassy and outside guests.
During the time that the exhibition remained open, it was visited also by the ambassador and staff of the Danish embassy, groups arranged by the German and French Friends of WAS-NS, additional visiting groups and individuals, as well as the children of the primary school, the staff of other institutions in the village and WAS-NS residents.
