Click here (handala.org) to view the political artwork of Naji Al-Ali, a (deceased) Palestinian refugee who lent his pen and brush to creating 'Handala', a character that remains iconic for many of his people...
I really appreciate the way art is interpretable by so many people. I think Handala and other political artwork is a plea for the Palestinians to be understood, in a way that perhaps their culture is not as well understood in the US.
Handala has indeed become a sort of 'mascot' (although that term hardly does justice) to many Palestinians. Might icons such as this be effective where words fail??
I thought that part about Handala being a child that has suffered because of this conflict was interesting. I never really understood this part of that character. I do think that many Palestinians have adopted Handala as the closest thing to a 'face of the conflict' as they have.
Something I just reread that struck me--I like the part that describes Handala as "born ten years old, and he will always be ten years old." Naji Al-Ali has said that he will start to grow up when he returns. I think this is a good metaphor for the restrictions the conflict has put on the development of Palestine and Israel, both materially and spiritually. It is hard to advance and progress and grow when you are living and reliving arguments of the past.
4 comments:
I really appreciate the way art is interpretable by so many people. I think Handala and other political artwork is a plea for the Palestinians to be understood, in a way that perhaps their culture is not as well understood in the US.
Handala has indeed become a sort of 'mascot' (although that term hardly does justice) to many Palestinians. Might icons such as this be effective where words fail??
pdk
I thought that part about Handala being a child that has suffered because of this conflict was interesting. I never really understood this part of that character. I do think that many Palestinians have adopted Handala as the closest thing to a 'face of the conflict' as they have.
-Elika
Something I just reread that struck me--I like the part that describes Handala as "born ten years old, and he will always be ten years old." Naji Al-Ali has said that he will start to grow up when he returns. I think this is a good metaphor for the restrictions the conflict has put on the development of Palestine and Israel, both materially and spiritually. It is hard to advance and progress and grow when you are living and reliving arguments of the past.
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