The Found Archive of Hani Jawherieh - The Art of Accessing Forbidden Archive - Magazine

The exhibition, curated by Azza El Hassan shows the personal archive of Hani Jawherieh, a Palestinian photographer and cinematographer

Hani Jawherieh (1939-1976) was a Palestinian photographer and cinematographer who is responsible for the portrayal of Palestinians in the late 60s and 70s as freedom fighters and liberators of the world. In 1982, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Jawheriehâ€™s work was seized by the Israeli army and transferred to the Israeli military archive, where it remains until this very day. Palestinians are forbidden to access this archive.

The Void Project: The Found Archive of Hani Jawherieh traces the personal archive of Hani Jawherieh, which survived the Israeli invasion and looting. It is an archive of photos and films which were rescued, and have remained hidden for thirty seven years.

This unparalleled access to a past Palestinian archive, especially one that played such a key role in conserving Palestinian image and identity, is a right which Palestinian artists do not often enjoy. What does it mean to assemble, rename, gaze and appropriate a past visual Palestinian narrative? Azza El Hassan explores these questions through The Void Project: The Found Archive of Hani Jawherieh.

Photo from the archive of Hani Jawherieh / Courtesy of P21 Gallery