PHOTO EXHIBITION AT HANIKAH IN SARAJEVO (April 10– May 9, 2015) ‘Palestinian Chronicles’ by David Verberckt

The exhibition 'Palestinian Chronicles' by David Verberckt at Hanikah / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Installation view of 'Palestinian Chronicles' by David Verberckt / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

These chronicles started in 1992 with a view on Palestinians living, at the time, under full Israeli administration and occupation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The common theme captured is the quotidian life, strained freedom of movement and difficulties of access encountered by the Palestinians population. This story shows the evolution of numerous 1948 refugee camps in Palestine and life of their nowadays fourth generation of refugees.

In the early nineties, before the Oslo accords, daily reality of Palestinian life during the first Intifada marked the century's perception of long term refugees' existence under military occupation. Its imprint, carrying the past and visibly looming forward, still remains.

'Palestinian Chronicles' by David Verberckt / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Presently, the Palestinian Territories in the West Bank are partly administrated by the Palestinian Authority, but still under Israeli military control and occupation. Ever increasing segregation, barriers, illegal Israeli settlements and disproportional violence are seriously impeding the creation of a viable Palestinian State.

Meanwhile, Palestinian people continue to live the refugee limbo that spans over 65 years, bustling through their everyday lives and unfolding their tales of history and times to come.

The reportage on Palestinian Chronicles was made during two longer strays in 1992 and 1993 and recently during several visits between July 2013 and May 2014.

Highlights from the Exhibition

David Verberckt, Bedouins, Chief of Kahn Ahmar Bedouin community, Palestine, May, 2014

David Verberckt, Directions, Ultra Orthodox Neighbourhood of Me'A She'Arim near the green line separating West and East Jerusalem, May 2014

David Verberckt, Distrust, Muslim Neighbourhood in the old City, under Israeli control since the 6 day war in 1967, Jerusalem 1993

David Verberckt, Exclusion, Section of the separation wall in Bethlehem, segregating the entire Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestine, May 2014

David Verberckt, Ghost Town, Bir Nabala, cut off by the seperation wall and gradually abandoned, Palestine, July 2013

David Verberckt, Humilation, Waiting to pass one of numerous Israeli army check-points in Hebron, Palestine, August 2013

David Verberckt, Movement, Dheisheh refugee campa near Bethlehem in the West Bank, Plaestine, August 2013

David Verberckt, On Patrol, Israeli army patrol in the alleys leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem Old City, July 2013

David Verberckt, Restricted, Sealed-off street in Hebron, where the Palestinian population lives under constant occupation and segregation, August 2013

David Verberckt, Security, Palestinian boy walking through the sealed-off Shuhada street in Hebron, Palestine, August 2013

All photos by David Verberckt have been taken at the exhibition by Islamic Arts Magazine.

David Verberckt

Born at the seaside in Belgium, David Verberckt continues to sail through time and move over space. Above all, with his camera. After having done his first documentary reportages in the early nineties, David has spent engaging twenty years working in humanitarian emergency and development in the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans, close to the people in need. Spirited traveller, he stayed akin with his cameras, recounting his voyages. David's interest stays close to people, their destinies and social themes, hence his reportages portray peculiarities of the deprived civil society. David is a freelance photographer, currently living in Budapest, travelling often to convey his stories from various parts of the world.