"All Eyes On"
Artists: Wael Al-Sousi, Ayman Alazraq, Mona Hatoum, Liam Alzafari, Dalia Al Kury, Sharif Waked and Noor Abed
Thursday 20 February: Curator and artist talk Palestine Norway Archive Collection + food and button making
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Rogaland Kunstsenter invites you to the exhibition All Eyes On. The exhibition was produced by Nitja senter for samtidskunst, where it was shown in autumn 2024, and is curated by members of PRAKSIS Teen Advisory Board – a group of young people between 17 and 22 years old – as part of the three-year Young Curators Mentorship programme. Young Curators Mentorship is a collaboration between Nitja senter for samtidskunst and PRAKSIS. The Young Curators 2024 are: Kendrick Olemor Bedana Aguilar, Vivianné Bucio Bach, Rosa Horiat, Elwyn Bjerkan Mathiesen, Rue Mussé, Matine Nisso Nusayrieva-Mitchell, Violetta Nechai, Linnea Sahlberg, Molly Scharffenberg and Laiba Shafiq.
At a time of profound significance for the Palestinian people, All Eyes On amplifies the voices and a series of video works of seven Palestinian artists across several generations. With both gravity and humour, these works explore themes of culture, identity, solidarity and everyday life in the midst of conflict. Each work serves as a testimony to the Palestinian people's ongoing struggle to preserve their culture and their human dignity, despite the challenges they face every day.
All Eyes On creates space for reflection on what is happening in Gaza, and invites the audience to turn their gaze towards a region where many voices go unheard or misunderstood. In light of recent developments around ceasefire agreements in Gaza, the exhibition and its accompanying public programme offer an opportunity to create space for reflection and a deeper understanding of Palestine, and invites the audience to turn their gaze towards a land and a people whose voices continue to resonate in today's geopolitical context. By showcasing Palestinian art, the aim is to give a platform to those living in a complex reality and to challenge stereotypes through the artists' own perspectives. The works on view offer insight into both the personal and the collective experiences tied to occupation, resistance and survival.
An important aspect of All Eyes On is the public programme that accompanies the exhibition. The programme seeks to engage audiences in conversations about the role of art in conflict zones and how art can function as a form of resistance, but also as a tool for healing and hope. Through discussions, workshops and conversations with artists and curators, the hope is that the exhibition can create a space for dialogue in which to explore the significance of art in shaping identity and community, especially in times of war and oppression.
In addition to being an art exhibition, All Eyes On is an act of solidarity and culture. It is a reminder that art can be a force for change, and a tool for illuminating voices that otherwise risk being ignored. Through art, the exhibition hopes to foster a deeper understanding of the ongoing situation in Gaza, and to support Palestinian artists in their work of telling their stories to a global audience.
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