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The Independent
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Exhibition of Palestinian dress and embroidery to open at V&A Dundee
An exhibition of Palestinian dress and embroidery is set to open at V&A Dundee, as the city marks 45 years since it was twinned with Nablus in the West Bank. Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine brings together more than 30 historical dresses, alongside veils, head-dresses, jewellery, accessories and archival photographs. The exhibition explores the ways tatreez – an ancient practice of elaborate hand-embroidery – has shaped and expressed Palestinian national identity since the late 19th century and evolved into a form of resistance and solidarity. It also showcases the regional variations in dressmaking and embroidery across Palestine, with the cut, colour, textiles, stitches and motifs on Palestinian women's dress being both a highly skilled craft and a language which reveals who the wearer is and where they are from. Leonie Bell, director of V&A Dundee, said: 'Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine is an exhibition that through research, collections and partnership explores the traditions and material culture of Palestinian dress and the vast range of regional styles that tell important stories about the lives of the women who made, adapted and wore these dresses, jewellery, head-dresses and accessories. 'The exhibition also explores the 45-year-old connection between Dundee and Nablus, a twinning relationship that has brought these two cities together, and it celebrates contemporary Palestinian design and creativity from Dundee, Scotland and across the UK.' The exhibition includes 'spectacular' historical dresses from villages in Gaza – including one that was damaged in the bombing of the Rafah Museum in 2023. It also features the dress worn by Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla at the swearing-in ceremony of her husband, former first minister Humza Yousaf. Ms El-Nakla said she is 'delighted' to welcome the exhibition to V&A Dundee. 'Design and culture are peaceful and powerful forms of resistance and solidarity,' she said. 'Palestinian fashion and dress express ideas about who we have been, who we are and the lives we want to live in peace and with dignity. 'This exhibition is opening at a time of extreme pain and suffering. It's bringing design from Palestine to life and tells the stories of women's lives in Palestine. 'I am proud that my dress, or thobe, that I wore at the Scottish Parliament is there as an expression of my Scottish-Palestinian identity, and as a symbol of solidarity, hope and peace.' The exhibition was developed in partnership with the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit in the West Bank, drawing on local expertise and objects from Palestine, as well as with Art Jameel and the V&A.
Irish Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Dublin school cancels ‘Prayer for Palestine Day' amid ‘differing opinions'
A primary school, which cancelled a planned 'Prayer for Palestine Day' this week after some parents raised concerns, has said it was obliged to accommodate 'differing opinions' on the initiative. Mount Anville Primary School, in the Kilmacud/Stillorgan area of south Dublin , sent a letter to parents on Monday outlining its plans. It was intended to educate pupils on Palestinian culture in the hope of raising awareness of the 'unprecedented hardship and starvation' facing children in Gaza. However, a cancellation letter was issued the next day by the school's board of management in order to ensure the event would not be 'misconstrued or politicised in any manner'. READ MORE In the initial letter, school principal Angela Munro, said: 'Each class will engage in activities suitable to their age and stage to raise awareness of Palestine.' Resources were prepared by the school's teachers with a focus on Palestinian culture, art, music, food, and geography. Ms Munro cited the school's Sacred Heart ethos 'of social awareness that impels us to action, reaching out in compassion and solidarity with the innocent children of Gaza who are suffering unprecedented hardship and starvation'. She said the school community would use the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 'as our guide' when praying for the children of Palestine during an assembly. She added that they would be availing of resources provided by the Ombudsman for Children's Office in Dublin. However, on Tuesday, the board of management wrote to parents, informing them that 'the proposed Prayer for Palestine Day has raised concerns among some members of our school community'. 'In order to ensure that our intention, which was purely educational, is not misconstrued or politicised in any manner, we have decided that it will no longer go ahead.' In a statement to The Irish Times, a spokesperson for the school said: 'We have carefully listened to all views expressed on this sensitive matter. We appreciate there are differing opinions, which we are obliged to accommodate. 'We have engaged directly with the school's community. Our primary focus remains the education, wellbeing and care of all our pupils.' While the school shares the same name as nearby Mount Anville Secondary School, a private school which counts former president Mary Robinson as an alumnus, the two schools are distinct and not associated with one another.
Reuters
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
In pictures: Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha
[1/24] A Palestinian girl in traditional attire poses for a picture, on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha on the Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
