Exhibition “Unlike Other Springs” opens in BZU

Birzeit University Museum announced the opening of its new public art exhibition entitled “Un like Other Springs”, celebrating  twenty years of establishing its art collection that first started in 1994 with a generous donation by  the Swiss artist René Feurer.
“Un like Other Springs”, curated by Vera Tamari,  will be held until June 30th, to shed light on the genesis and evolution of the museum’s art collection, showcasing the deep and historical relationship between Birzeit University and the Palestinian, Arab and international artists.
The exhibition contains more than 300 art-works representing modern and contemporary practices, including paintings, multimedia, sculpture and video art.  Running alongside these exhibitions will be a series of different events, including art workshops, seminars and lectures, meetings with artists and panel discussions, aiming at deepening students’ participation and disseminate knowledge about the various representations of art.
University president Abdel Latif Abu Hijleh said that the university is dedicated to serving the university’s community as well as the greater Palestinian public. ” We are committed to a culturally inclusive and interdisciplinary interpretation of art and culture“.

“Throughout the years a close relationship between the Museum and artists was solidified, which contributed in achieving our vision of offering an intellectual platform for active debate on contemporary art production and practice”, Yasin  said.
Yasin conveyed special thanks to Palestinian researcher and collector George al Amaa who offered two unique gifts to the collection, a painting on glass by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, one of the main literary and art giants of Palestine and a landscape drawing by pioneer artist Sophie Halaby.
Curator Tamari said that the exhibition has been distributed mainly in the gallery of the museum and others campus and outside. “While organizing  the museum we were keen to place each piece of art in the right place to reflect the message that each artist intended to deliver.”
“This exhibition is distinguished with its diversity, which acts as a bridge between the traditional art world and an emerging creative and contemporary scene based on new combinations and definitions. Unlike Other Springs collection mission is to foster cultural understanding and educational exchange”, Tamari added.
The university expressed special thanks to the artists who had contributed with their works to Museum:
Marwan QassabBashi, Kamal Boullata, Etel Adnan, Laila Shawa, Samia Halaby, Vladimir Tamari, Mona BassiliSehnaoui, RachidQurayshi, Ismail Shammout, Nasser Soumi, Sari Khoury, Samira Badran, Mona Hatoum, Mona Saudi, Vera Tamari, Maurice Pasternak, MizukoYakuwa,  Jorge Shmeitzer, Guy Cobb, and Lois Nakhleh, Sliman Mansur, Suha Shoman, Nabil Anani, Tayseer Barakat,Emily Jacir, Rula Halawani, Hosni Radwan, Taysir Batniji , Samir Salameh, Hani Zurob, Khaled Hourani, Jawad al Malhi, Jumana Manaa, Raeda Saadeh, Inass Yassin, Sharif Waked, Ahmad Kanaan, Khalil Rabah, TayseerSharaf, Yazan Al khalili, Amer Shomali, OmarivsIosephFilivsDinæ, Bashir Makhoul, and John Halaka.