Tiraz exhibition showcases resilience, cultural history amid Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

AMMAN — An exhibition displaying handcrafted Gazan embroidery products at Tiraz: Widad Kawar Home for Arab Dress bears witness to the community’s resilience and rich cultural history. 

Under the title “Gaza Calling” the exhibition comes as a response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza due to the Israeli occupation’s war crimes against people there, according to director of Tiraz, Mary Kawar.

She noted that visitors can buy embroidered crafts that have been shipped to Jordan from the Sulufa Embroidery Centre in Gaza, an UNWRA collective which creates traditional and contemporary embroidered goods. 

Proceeds from selling these, and the 5JD entry fees for the exhibition will be donated to support relief efforts in Gaza, Kawar told The Jordan Times. 

Tiraz, founded twelve years ago by Widad Kawar, is an “interactive museum” displaying a private collection of traditional Palestinian and Arab costumes as well as other embroidery items. 

Aside from educating the public on Arab heritage and history, Tiraz also delivers training sessions for women who embroider in order to help hone and improve their skills, according to Mary Kawar. 

She said that this exhibition in particular invites visitors to learn about the “rich” culture and history of Gaza through its women’s traditional costumes. It also features a historical timeline, tracking the events in Palestine over the past century. 

This all aims to challenge narratives about the ongoing war on Gaza, which “overlook” the over 70-year-old struggle of the Palestinian people under Israel occupation, added Kawar. 

Maher Baker, a Palestinian-Canadian, visited the exhibition on Saturday with his wife and children. 

“We’re here because we want to help in anyway we can,” he told The Jordan Times. 

Sofia, who is half Belgian and half Lebanese was invited to attend the exhibition by her Palestinian friend, from whom she learned about the history of Palestine and its struggles under occupation.

“I lived my whole life in Europe, where people are lead to believe that there was nothing before Israel was created, but the rich culture evident in these embroidery pieces shows otherwise,” she told The Jordan Times.

Rama Ahmad, another visitor, noted that aside from supporting aid efforts for people in Gaza, this exhibition comes as a reminder of the besieged city’s beauty. 

“Gaza has been stigmatised by the media as a place of destruction and war, but then come here and see an embroidered dress that came from there, and you think: This is beautiful,” she told The Jordan Times. 

Hilda, a British national, visited the exhibition with her Palestinian husband to support Gaza. 

“What’s going on at the moment is unbearable; I can’t believe the world is standing by and letting this happen,” She told The Jordan Times. 

Hilda noted that she has been a supporter of the Palestinian cause since 1972, after learning the “truth” about the struggles of its people following a visit to a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. 

She said that the large number of demonstrators in London and other cities shows that more people in the west know the truth about Palestine today.

“This is because social media can’t be controlled like mainstream media, which continues to push propaganda and false narratives that ignore the history preceding the current war,” added Helda. 

“This is why such exhibitions are important, as they stand as a witness to the rich history and culture of Palestinian people, who have been here for a very long time,” she continued. 

The exhibition, which was inaugurated on Saturday, is open for visitors from 4:00pm-9:00pm. Its duration has not yet been confirmed by organisers.