KL Film Fest & Art Exhibition on Palestine
It’s been 60 years since the catastrophe or Nakba of Palestine and the cause is in risk of being forgotten by apathy as well as lethargy of sympathy. To confront this, MalaysianSocial Research Institute (MSRI) organized KL Film Fest & Art Exhibition on Palestinewith theme of rebuilding and reconstruction. It is held at the Annex Gallery, CentralMarket from 27 to 29 November 2008.Initially, the program is supposed to be officiated by Raja Ahmad Aminullah but couldn’tmake it due to unforeseen circumstances. In goodwill, he arranged for Seniman NegaraDato’ Syed Ahmad Jamal to come instead. Tadzarul Adha, the MSRI ProgramCoordinator jokingly said that their name sounds similar enough.With his years and wisdom, the patriarch of art is able to give deeply personal and local perspective to the Palestinian conflict. He recalled the Japanese bombing of Singaporewhich is one of the darkest hours in our history. His family was forced to flee from home, bringing their belongings in a cart. He tasted what it meant to be a refugee for a shorttime and gravely reminds us that the Palestinians had been denied home for four generations.But his memory of war is not all gloom and despair as it is the time he first time he tastedcapati. Given by a kind Punjabi, it is a reminder that despite all odds not all people areselfish. To close off his teary memoir, he recited a poem entitled ‘Moaning Women’.Dato’ Syed Ahmad Jamal also expressed his gratitude to all the participating artistes for supporting the event and their willingness to share 60 percent off the proceeds for Palestinian cause. Tadzarul Adha revealed that the call for submission was made on 25October 2008 and MSRI is really grateful with the number of works contributed withinsuch short notice.
Suffering Children
A painting entitled ‘60?’ by Syahrulfkiri Salled greets visitors entering the exhibition withits simple yet powerful image. Adorned with the colors of Palestinian flag, a boyshedding bloody tear starkly reminds the length of the conflict.To further emphasize the savagery of war on children, ‘Shattered Dreams’ by AhmadFuad Osman confronts the mutilation on a boy head on. His amputated legs, arm and acovered face signify how the conflict had curtailed the dreams of many Palestinians. Yetthe boy is still holding fast to a superhero action figure, waiting for salvation.Hishamuddin Rais defied convention when he presented three Styrofoam coffins markedwith Islam, Jew and Christian symbols. One of the artist’s children attending the programinnocently touched the black coffins and it occurred to us that the small size indicateschildren perished in the conflict.
Leave a Comment