UNC Students Showcase “Against Erasure” Photo Exhibit Depicting Life in Palestine
UNC students recently unveiled the “Against Erasure” photo exhibit at the Hanes Art Center, aiming to showcase the daily lives of Palestinian people in the early 20th century. The exhibit is part of a larger collection of art projects related to Palestine, including a mural created during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and a narrative painting called “When Olive Trees Weep.”
The exhibit features photos from the book “Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba,” capturing life in Mandatory Palestine during British colonial rule. The photos highlight political consequences, daily life, economic aspects, and cultural aspects, shedding light on a history often ignored or erased.
Students were tasked with analyzing the images and developing questions related to them, arranging the exhibit based on content and providing write-ups about each photo’s history. The exhibit showcases aspects of Palestinian life, from architecture to agriculture, challenging preconceived notions through Orientalist Photography.
The exhibit also includes “When Olive Trees Weep,” a unique painting created by students as a call-to-action against Palestinian mass killing and displacement. The painting references specific artworks exposing genocide and incorporates symbols of the Palestinian experience, such as the olive tree and keffiyeh cloth.
Overall, the exhibit is a powerful reflection of Palestinian culture and history, aiming to challenge erasure and bring attention to the beauty and richness of a culture often overshadowed by violence. The collection serves as a reminder to acknowledge and appreciate the complexities of Palestinian life beyond mainstream narratives.
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Photo credit www.dailytarheel.com
