ICD Brookfield Place Arts unveils Water like tears, flour like soil, a group exhibition formed in collaboration with Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research – an ancestral family home turned artist-run space in Bethlehem. Opening on November 13th, 2024, the exhibition explores themes of creation and transformation through land, kinship, cultural resistance and storytelling.
Through the ICD Brookfield Place Arts Program – a platform focused on supporting local and regional creatives – this show invites audiences to explore shared experiences united in moments of community and exchange. The title of the show calls attention to a Palestinian mourning ritual of kneading, baking, and eating bread after loss, borrowed from a performance by former Dar Jacir Land Program resident Shayma Hamad: “Pour the water like tears upon the flour until it becomes like grains of soil,” recalling the sacred rituals of healing between the body and the earth. This thought-provoking exhibition visualises collective narratives woven together by artists working between Gaza and Ireland and Bethlehem to the territories known as Brazil. Water like tears, flour like soil brings participating artists together in the Gulf to share these significant global solidarities built through collective cultural resistance.
Curated by New York City-based curator Camila Palomino, in dialogue with Emily Jacir, founder of Dar Jacir, Water like tears, flour like soil draws on the deep relationship between memory and transformation. Palomino’s work emphasises the intersection of memory and place-making, lending a thoughtful and poignant lens to the exhibition.
“We are so honoured to partner and collaborate closely with Dar Jacir and their incredible team. Their commitment to preserving and promoting Palestinian heritage deeply resonates with this exhibition. After witnessing the impactful work they do both in Palestine and globally, we were compelled to reach out and work alongside them to curate and produce this show at ICD Brookfield Place. Working alongside Emily and Camila has been a true pleasure, and I believe this exhibition will be our most powerful yet.” Said Malak Abu Qaoud, Director of ICD Brookfield Place Arts Programme
The exhibition features the works of renowned artists Adam Broomberg, Ahmed Al-Aqra, Aline Baiana, Andrea De Siena, Dina MaHar, Dina Mimi, Dirar Kalash, Duncan Campbell, Emily Jacir, Mohammed Hadia / Biishoss, Hazem Harb, Mohammed Al Hawajri, Mohanad Smama, Rafael Gonzalez, Samer Albarbari, Shayma Hamad, Stéphanie Janaina. Each piece reflects a commitment to cultural resistance and storytelling, uncovering layered histories that cross borders and generations.
Dar Jacir for Art and Research—once a family home—is now a vibrant, artistic haven along the historic Jerusalem-Hebron Road. It is celebrated for its emphasis on hospitality and interdisciplinary collaboration. By hos2ng residencies and fostering creative exchanges across various mediums, it has become a nurturing ground for innovative artistic expression.
Through this exhibition, the spirit of Dar Jacir will resonate within Dubai, inviting audiences to connect with powerful shared narratives. Experience this unique exploration of art that reflects the past and inspires a more connected future.
Press release from ICD Brookfield Place
Image: Mohammed Al Hawajri. Animal Farm. 2011. Image courtesy of the artist
