The International Art Exhibition for Palestine
Presentation of Research in Progress and Discussion by Kristine Khouri

Monday October 31st 2011
7:00 pm at Makan

In March 1978, an exhibition unlike any other opened in Beirut, Lebanon. Though it was at the scale of an international biennial, it was not; a cultural project of this dimension would usually be taken up by a state or government, but it was in fact organized by the Palestinian Liberation Organization, in the midst of the Lebanese civil war. "The International Art Exhibition for Palestine" contained nearly 200 artworks donated  by 177 artists from 28 countries. This remarkable collection of works, to be the nucleus of a Palestinian Museum,  included not only a solid roster of Arab artists but internationally celebrated names like Matta, Tàpies, Miró, and others. The presentation will offer the story of the exhibition, through interviews, documents and photographs.

The research project has been undertaken in collaboration between Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti.