Palestinian refugees' stories shared through graffiti
282 views · Published 24 October 2018 · 5:49 · Indexed 25 September 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(19 Oct 2018) LEADIN: An artist from the Baqaa Refugee Camp in Jordan uses street graffitti to share the stories of the Palestinian refugees who live there. Now Khalil Gheith's works have gone on display at an exhibition in the heart of the camp. STORYLINE: On the crumbling walls of Jordan's largest Palestinian refugee camp graffiti tells a story. The artwork narrates the history behind the formation of Baqaa camp and its residents' journeys. From the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars to life as a refugee. 52 year-old artist Khalil Gheith, who was born in the camp, has witnessed his home transform from a tented field to a bustling city. "As a Palestinian artist, it means that I must document the Palestinian struggle, in particular, to paint the faces of the refugees and paint our suffering," he says. The artist has become a household name in the camp. His work appears on many walls in the streets and is also showcased in homes. But Gheith says he feels it's important to show it outside: "So when the school children see it they will remember their national value." Now he's showing his art at an exhibition at Yarmouk Baqaa Club, in the heart of the refugee camp. Residents of all ages have come to admire his work. Ahmed Suleiman Abdo says the paintings "reflect our history and the history of our parents and grandparents". "The paintings hold the pain of our grandparents and the hopes of our children," adds the camp resident. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1e90735b4f7c7d1b04816fce3e6fd307
