Parallel Histories of Palestine: Art, Archives and Solidarity

Archives are important in preserving history, but how should they be presented or preserved? In this seminar, Palestinian artist Ayman AlAzraq, and PRIO Researcher Cindy Horst, will explore the role of art, history, solidarity and interconnections between insiders and outsiders in conflict.

Date & Time: Monday, 08 May 2023 16:30-18:00

Place: PRIO, Hausmanns gate 3, Oslo

Through a series of coincidences, Ayman came to possess a unique historical archive of both Palestinian history and an archive of Norwegian solidarity to the Palestinian cause. The archive includes photographs, texts, posters, meeting recordings and more. Erasure of Palestinian history only increases through every year of occupation and in combination with fatigue of international solidarity movements the role of this archive is significant.

In this seminar, Ayman will present his artistic background before telling the story of his discovery of the archive. During the discussion with Cindy, they will explore questions such as what role do outsiders play in preserving archives both for insiders and outsiders, how solidarity emerges and is it maintained, and how outsiders relate to conflict.

Speakers

Ayman Alazraq creates films, photos, and mixed media art. His work has been screened and exhibited worldwide, including his short film The Passport in Turin and Cologne, his installation You From Now On Are Not Yourself in Spain, Norway, Denmark, and Gaza Strip, and his short film Oslo Syndrome in Oslo, Dubai, and London. AlAzraq also collaborated on the interactive installation WALL-1, which was exhibited in various locations and permanently installed at the University College of Western Norway. In 2020, his artwork projection, You're going to miss me when I'm gone, was displayed on the City Hall wall.

Cindy Horst is a Research Professor in Migration and Refugee Studies at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Cindy is also the Co-Director of the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict. Her current research focuses on how individuals, including artists and academics, can challenge the status quo and effect societal change in (post-)conflict settings.

The seminar is hosted by the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict, and is part of the INSPIRE Seminar Series.

INSPIRE Seminar Series

The INSPIRE seminar series is a monthly online space where we explore arts-based methods, collaborative methods, ethics of doing research with artists, art as transformation, and engaged scholarship - all in the context of violent conflict and war - with invited researchers and artists. The seminars are open to all interested in these topics.