Sharjah Biennial continues in Ramallah
Photograph with red sheet filters corresponding to caesium 137 levels in Khirbet Al Taybeh, Hebron from Inas Halabi, Lions Remind Us of Futures Present (artist book), 2017. Courtesy of the artist.
The third offsite event of the Sharjah Biennial will take place in August. Under the curatorship of Christine Tohme, the entire event has unfolded since the beginning of the year with four iterations, each revolving around a central keyword - water, crops, earth and culinary.
From August 10-14 in Ramallah, the theme is earth and the event, titled Shifting Ground, is organised by Lara Khaldi, named as interlocutor.
Working with the concept of earth represents a complex endeavour in Palestine because of the relationship between the Palestinian and the land. They are stateless in a world full of nation states. Earth is not only soil or land but can also be a surface, medium and envelope of objects as well as secrets and stories.
These issues will be discussed as well as many more such as soil conditions, historical artefacts and wired networks in a four day symposium in the Palestinian city. The programme also includes newly commissioned publications and performances. The artist publications highlight research on issues related to the keyword. Samir Harb and Mimi Cabell investigate the history of the design of the Tegart forts in Palestine. Inas Halabi she looks at invisible buried chemical waste and radiation in the south of the West Bank and Yara Saqfalhait considers the newly emerging sinkholes around the Dead Sea in relation to a history of unrealised infrastructure projects. These are just some of the examples of the 10 publications that are set to be launched during the event.
Additionally, in a collaborative effort with The Palestinian Museum of Natural History and Humankind, a handbook of the museum collection will be published, as will the Arabic translation of Noor Abu Arafeh’s novel ‘The Earth Doesn’t Tell Its Secrets’ – His father once said (2017) about museums in Palestine, which was launched in Sharjah earlier this year.
The event will take place at the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center and the books will be on display for a month after the end of the event.