In the art world Palestine is a country, a recognised state and there would appear to be no reference to "territories" etc.
To see Palestine one has to go to the island of Giudecca - across the Grand Canal from Venice proper. There is a slight sense of "exile" on La Giudecca...detached from Venice, quieter and less intense.
As Cesare remarked, at least the people who come to see the Palestinian exhibit are coming with a purpose as there is no chance they could discover the exhibit by chance or accident...
The exhibit is in a delightful cloistered building on the first floor. Unlike other pavilions there is a proper sense of scale in Palestine c/o Venice and more importantly a proper sense of art.
The art is challenging, but it doesn't need the conceited, self congratulatory "explanations" that one sees elsewhere, nor does it rely on over contrived "artistic devices"... Instead through compelling use of multimedia including installations, animation, photography, video and sound, the exhibit communicates.
I must state now that I am not an expert of Palestine (much like 90% or more of the visitors who will see this exhibit) nor would I call myself an "art expert", but I took away strong messages from the Palestinian Pavillion - messages of hope & despair, joy & sadness, pride & shame, beauty & brutality.
People overlook the fact that Palestinians have children - children who have been born into occupation, oppression and obscurity - but children who still need to laugh, play and experiment within a hostile environment that prevents, limits and denies... People also overlook the fact that Palestinians were once children also. This art is the product of both that environment and its history and also the imagination of another environment of the future.
What perhaps impressed me most is the confidence and temperament of the exhibit. There was none of the "angry protest" that frightens and alienates neutral points of view and that is often associated with Palestine. Little of the passive / aggressive rhetoric so often replayed by mass media and none of the "victimhood on my sleeve" which while moving becomes congesting to many. This exhibit showed a Palestinian sensibility on both its own terms and those of the artists and also within the terms of reference that make some kind of connection with others and outsiders.
Perhaps this is what art is all about - connecting sensibilities without forcing compromise or confrontation? Perhaps this exhibit is an example of non-violent resistance?
I don't know - but what I do know is that I came away from it richer in experience, impressed with the artistic content and pleased that this exhibit stands head and shoulders with the artistic output of all of the other pavilions.
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