Return
of the Soul - the Nakbah Project, is a moving artwork comprised of thousands
of small wax figures creating an illussion of exodus. In total the project has
produced over 6,000 figures, 3,000 have just been exhibited in Al Hoash Gallery
in East Jerusalem and were created by Palestinians of all ages but mostly youths
from camps in the West bank, Al - Amari and Qalandia (Ramallah) and the Doha
Centre, Bethlehem as well as young professional artists from Jerusalem. The 3046 wax and wire figures on exhibit at Patriothall Gallery in Edinburgh were produced primarily by young artists and crafts people across three camps in Lebanon, Beddawi, Burj al-Barajneh and El Buss under the auspices of Al-Jana (The Arab Resource Centre for Popular Arts), and Shams Theatre Association and the Red Crescent.
Left <<<: Artist Jane Frere and project coordinator
Alison Macdonald Right >>>: The installation nears completion..
As the event programme describes, Jane Frere gave a six-day workshop to a team of professional artists and art students in Ramallah, who then passed on the concept to young people in Qalandia and Al Amari camps under the auspices of The Red Crescent. This was followed by a further six-day workshop at the Doha Centre in Bethlehem, and at Al Hoash Gallery in Jerusalem, co - producers of Return of the Soul, The Nakbah Project.
Jane lived and worked with Palestinians, in villages, cities and camps for nearly a year. This helped her conceive the workshops which covered "anatomy, movement, and Palestinian period costume, but most important of all exploring the physiognomy of flight and exile" as the described in the programme.
See a short film of the art work in Jerusalem, and hear Jane's comments >>>
Left <<<:Fenella and Jenny measuring
wires for figures. Right >>>: Mohammed (from Yemen) and Daniel tying figures to wires.
The creative workshops also involved training in testimony collecting and oral history courtesy of Al-Jana's expertise. The final aspect of the exhibition is made up of the testimonies, stories and pictures of many of the individuals whose personal lives and experiences are the subjects of many of the figures. They were interviewed by the young refugees who made the figures, and can be viewed in the restful room beyond the main exhibit. Jane describes the figures as "having been given life and soul in Lebanon", in the refugee camps of El Buss, Beddawi and Burj el Barajneh.
Left <<<: Frank looks up as the installation starts
to take shape Right >>>: Wassim in his Lebanese style El-Daar Cafe where workers ate during the project's Edinburgh phase. Patriothall Gallery web site >>>
Return of the Soul web site >>>
Edinburgh Art Festval web site >>>
A nightmare of shattered lives: The Scotsman, July 24th >>>
Wikipedia article on the Auschwitz concentration camp >>>
Return of the Soul: The Nakbah Project (continued) >>>
