An exhibition of paintings depicting the Israeli occupation of Palestine will open tomorrow at Áislann Chill Chartha.
The official opening of the exhibition is at 7pm on Tuesday, January 9th.
The Palestinian Paintings, a series of work by Jewish-Israeli artist Zohar, started in 2017 tackle the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Belonging to and growing up in Israel afforded Zohar an informed position to witness the 1967 Six Day War and subsequent occupation of territories and the ongoing and increasing displacement of Palestinian citizens.
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has welcomed the exhibition and said: “The Palestinian Paintings is a powerful reminder of the daily brutality the Palestinian people have experienced under the apartheid Israeli regime. We cannot be silent as we see the horror of the genocide taking place in Gaza, and the Irish people continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Zohar uses his art to promote peace, and The Palestinian Paintings is a peace-building, cross-border, cross-community exhibition promoting good relations across Ireland. The paintings were borne of an anger and frustration at the continued and ongoing fear, humiliation, and horror that ordinary Palestinians experienced on a daily basis.
Born in Kazakhstan in 1945, Zohar is a classically trained painter and a graduate of the Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem. He has lived and worked in London since 1987.
The exhibition statement describes these works as “his witness as an artist and a human being”.
The official opening of the exhibition is at 7pm on Tuesday, January 9th. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.
