Three students from the Arab American University participated with their drawings in the first Palestinian comics exhibition, entitled "Tahrir Street - Amara 48", which was organized by Ramallah Municipality, at Ramallah Museum, as an initiative of Palestinian artists to commemorate the 75th Palestinian Nakba.
The exhibition consists of several sections, in which 17 Palestinian artists displayed their drawings, in addition to a number of international artists on the path of comic art, which is considered the first of its kind in Palestine. The comic art is telling stories that simulate the Nakba through drawings to convey a message to the world about what the Palestinians have been suffering for seventy-five years. This memory is still engraved in their hearts and minds, and passed on through generations.
The Palestinian artist and lecturer at the Arab American University, Mr. Mohammad Sabaaneh, one of the main initiators of organizing the comics exhibition, stresses the importance of the exhibition which lies in commemorating the Palestinian Nakba with a new experience of its kind, and delivering the message of the Palestinian people to the world through comics art, which is internationally famous. At the Palestinian level, this exhibition is the first to include Palestinian artists participated, including expatriates, some in Palestine, and others from the Gaza Strip who painted their paintings while they were under bombardment in the recent war on Gaza, in addition to three international artists who support the Palestinian cause and have a great position in the field the art.
The second part of the importance of this exhibition, as Sabaaneh pointed out, is the participation of young artists from Palestinian universities, led by the Arab American University. Some of these young people are participating for the first time, and others have participated in several exhibitions, stressing that the role of intellectuals and artists is to support the new generations and stand by them.
Sabaaneh explained that he authored a book on the art of comics, during his MA studies in Britain, and he wanted, along with a number of artists, to revive this art, which started shyly in Palestine, even though there are artists able to produce, while globally this art is important. The first step was to organize this exhibition with the support of the Ramallah Municipality, and he passed thanks to it. He also indicated that he discovered students with talents for drawing, and a number of artists stood by and supported them. Sabaaneh confirmed the support of the artists and the Arab American University for these new generations, to reach a level where they become the ambassadors of Palestine wherever they exist.
Arab American University students who participated in the exhibition, Shahd Al-Razi, a student majoring in digital media, Moen Hammad and Heba Hamdan, freshmen majoring in industrial product design, expressed their happiness for their participation in this exhibition, which provided them with an opportunity to express the Palestinian Nakba through their drawings. They also expressed pride of the Arab American University, which stood by them, thanks to Mr. Mohammad Sabaaneh, who supported and encouraged them to participate, and contributed to the development of their abilities and talents. They also expressed their pride in participating alongside Palestinian and international artists, which confirms that the university’s mission is not limited to teaching.
The participating students explained that some of them participated for the first time while others participated in school exhibitions, and their drawings expressed the suffering of the Palestinian people since the Nakba until now. Through their drawings, they emphasized that the elderly die and young people never forget, and that this memory will remain with successive generations to demand their right to return to their homes that were demolished during the Nakba, stressing that, through their drawings, they will convey the message to the world.
For his part, the Mayor of Ramallah, Issa Qassis, explained in the welcoming speech that this exhibition, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, was organized in a museum established in 1910 AD, praising the Palestinian artists who revived the art of comics, and that the start should be from the city of Ramallah, to address the world in the language of culture and art. He stressed that with creativity Palestinians attract the attention of the international community and deliver our message to them.
