July/August 2006

http://alawda.newjerseysolidarity.org

An Evening in New Jersey with Palestinian Prisoner Artist, Zuhdi Al-Adawi

On Monday, March 13, Zuhdi Al-Adawi - a former Palestinian political prisoner and artist whose work is exhibited in the "Made in Palestine" exhibit in New York - spoke at the New Brunswick Public Library about his life and experience as a Palestinian political prisoner.

Zuhdi al-Adawi speaks in New Jersey, March 13, 2006. (Photo: Noel Winkler)

His parents were from Al-Lidd. After they were forced out in the Nakba of 1948, they settled in the Nusairat Refugee camp in Gaza where they were forced to march through the wilderness to by the Zionist gangs. In 1952, Zuhdi was born. He lived in the refugee camp until it was destroyed by a hurricane and the 1967 war. At that time he became a freedom fighter. He saw buildings destroyed and devastation everywhere during the occupation. His own mother was beaten by soldiers. One could get arrested or killed if they refused occupation. In 1970 he was captured and imprisoned at Ashkelon Prison He was the youngest of the political prisoners.

In prison he discovered that prison becomes school where the prisoners would change their lives. Some of them were poets, artists, educators, etc. Artists taught themselves the arts, so Zuhdi was a self-taught artist. Most of his drawings were on cloth - pillow covers or handkerchiefs. Art supplies were prohibited, but he received colored pencils, pastels, and the like during the monthly visits he was allowed. He drew in secret away from the guards. but the guards found the smuggled materials and he spent 2 weeks in solitary confinement, where it was much harder to receive visitors. Other prisoners had more freedom. Still the guards could not stop him from painting. His paintings show different themes such as confiscation of land, imprisonment, patriotism, and Sabra and Shatilla. Still he was optimistic.

After 50 years in prison he was released. He was exiled to Lebanon and later moved to Damascus, Syria where he lives and works today and where his art work was exhibited one month after his release. He continued to educate himself after his release.

He said that he was happy to talk about the Palestinian experience here in America. He also said that Palestine was like a beautiful flower. Young people there want to live without oppression. He says no to occupation, yes to Palestinian liberation

His art work was a part of the “Made in Palestine” exhibition, alongside fellow political prisoner artist Mohammed Al-Rakouie, and 21 other Palestinian artists.