Preservation / Palestine Showcase of Work by Palestinian Artists

Rather than presenting Palestinian identity as monolithic or reductionist, Preservation strives to draw upon the region’s multifaceted diversity – of history, culture, class, religion, and ethnicity – alongside a consideration of life under duress that might not be anticipated by the Canadian viewer. The work aims to give audiences perspective on Palestinian life from Palestinian artists, outside of a western-media lens.

Featured Artists:
Marah Haj, Dancer and Choreographer
Moaz Hosni, Filmmaker
Shahd Itbakhi, Installation and Multidisciplinary Artist
Hosny Salah, Photographer

Commissioned by Volcano Theatre
Curator: Rimah Jabr
Associate Producer: Sheree Spencer

Opening Night Schedule

7:00-7:30 pm
Exploration of the Gallery Installment

7:30-7:45 pm
Transition to the cafe for Panel Discussion

7:45-8:30 pm
Panel Discussion on the role of art during times of crises when the world appears to be on fire.

Featuring: Playwright and Preservation Curator Rimah Jabr and Volcano Associate artist and TMU theatre professor Lisa Karen Cox

Catering from the Palestinian Bakeshop will be provided

The event is free, but donations are welcome. Numbers are limited, so please confirm a spot

There has been too much cultural erasure in the world - theatres, cinemas, libraries, archaeological sites, universities - burned, bombed,  reduced to rubble, while too many of the artists who animated these spaces have been killed, imprisoned, silenced, displaced.

Preservation is an international project, produced by Volcano, to preserve cultural voices in the face of genocide, war and/or targeted violence. This iteration of Preservation is intended as the first in a series that will draw upon the points of view of artists in crisis zones across the globe.

Preservation / Palestine features short works from four internationally recognised Palestinian artists. Their work will be premiered both online and during a live exhibition in Toronto.

The work aims to give audiences perspective on Palestinian life from Palestinian artists, outside of a western-media lens.

Said Preservation curator, Rimah Jabr: “Recently, I have learned that presenting oneself as Palestinian often comes with certain stereotypes and expectations. What does this mean to you? How do you position yourself in relation to this stereotypical context? Is there something you believe deserves attention that someone from outside your environment would not expect? These were the prompts shared with our artists, to inform their work for Preservation.”