Filmmaking, Looted Museums, and Palestinian Art as Resistance | Amer Shomali

Today, multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and director of the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, Amer Shomali, sits down for a conversation about art, identity, and resistance. Amer shares his journey from a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria to studying architecture at Birzeit University, and the chance encounter that redirected his life toward his true passion in art and film. We explore three of his most iconic works: the viral Visit Palestine poster (2009), the lipstick portrait of Leila Khaled (The Icon, 2011), and his acclaimed animated documentary The Wanted 18 - the story of 18 cows that became a symbol of non-violent Palestinian resistance during the First Intifada. We then turn to the Palestinian Museum, which Amer took over as director on October 8th, 2023, just one day after the genocide in Gaza began. He speaks about the challenges of running a museum when 80% of the national collection has been looted, and 80% of the audience lives in diaspora, and how the museum is redefining what a cultural institution can be. From the living exhibition This Is Not an Exhibition featuring Gazan artists, to the open-source traveling exhibition Gaza Remains: The Story, to the Digital Archives now holding over 400,000 documents — this episode explores the necessity of cultural resilience. This conversation was recorded on December 1st, 2024. This episode is hosted by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Tarwida’s lead producer is Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producers are Zeena Shehadeh and Ahmed Ashour. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. Intro music by Terez Sliman. Tarwida Podcast is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about Creative Palestine. Relevant links and Resources: Connect with Amer Shomali on Instagram @amershomali (  / amershomali  ) Visit Amer’s website (https://www.amershomali.info/) Learn more about The Palestinian Museum (https://www.palmuseum.org/en), The Icon - Leila Khaled (https://www.amershomali.info/the-icon/), Visit Palestine poster (https://www.amershomali.info/post-vis...) Watch The Wanted 18 trailer (   • The Wanted 18 - Official Trailer  ) The Palestinian Museum Digital Archive (https://palmuseum.org/en/programmes/p...) The travelling exhibition: Gaza Remains the Story (https://palmuseum.org/en/node/4017) Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome 01:00 - Amer's Childhood: Refugee Camp, Art & Family Pressure 04:00 - Studying Architecture & the Accidental Career Pivot 06:30 - The Visit Palestine Poster (2009): Origins & Impact 11:30 - The Icon: Leila Khaled Portrait Made of Lipsticks (2011) 15:30 - The Wanted 18: The Story Behind the Film 21:00 - Blending Humor & Resistance in Palestinian Art 27:30 - The Power of Collaborative & Community-Led Art 34:30 - The Palestinian Museum: History & Mission 38:00 - Taking Over as Director on October 8th, 2023 43:00 - Threats to Palestinian Cultural Narrative 44:00 - This Is Not an Exhibition: Art in Solidarity with Gaza 49:00 - Gaza Remains: The Story — A Global Traveling Exhibition 52:30 - The Palestinian Digital Archives: Preserving Memory 01:01:00 - Future Vision for the Palestinian Museum 01:02:30 - Upcoming Documentary: The Looted Collection 01:03:30 - Closing Reflections