SYDNEY — Treasures of Palestine showcases a wide selection of traditional material ranging from costumes, jewellery and ceramics to mother-of-pearl inlay work, posters, photography and olive-wood sculptures. Through these objects, visitors to the exhibition can appreciate the richness and depth of Palestine's cultural heritage.
These artistic and documentary materials represent the integrity of a living tradition and of cultural and spiritual continuity within Palestine and throughout the Palestinian diaspora, both the Christian and Islamic religious traditions of the Palestinian people.
A banknote and a selection of coins are symbolic as social history documents. For example, the banknote was produced in Britain in 1939, and features an image of the Dome of the Rock and words in Arabic, Hebrew and English.
Embroidery, seen in Palestine as being important in keeping cultural traditions alive, is also featured in the exhibition. The collection illustrates how patterns and colours have changed since 1948 to include iconic images such as olives, wheat and even the word Palestine.
Treasures of Palestine invites visitors to engage with the Palestinian people themselves and their strong sense of identity. Moreover, the exhibition encourages us to see beyond the present conflict and focus on the people of Palestine.
Treasures of Palestine is at the Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo, until January 27. On November 29 and 30, there will be talks and demonstrations of Palestinian embroidery and performances of music, poetry and film.
The material in Treasures of Palestine is from the collection of Ali Kazak, head of the Palestinian delegation to Australia. Visit the Powerhouse Museum web site at <http://www.phm.gov.au/> for more information.
From Green Left Weekly, November 5, 2003.
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