India Hosts Historic Palestine Art Exhibition Showcasing Life Under Occupation

A groundbreaking art exhibition titled “The Body Called Palestine” has opened in New Delhi, marking India’s largest and most impactful visual statement on the Palestinian experience under Israeli occupation. Hosted at Jawahar Bhawan, the exhibition brings together 140 artworks by over 80 artists from Palestine, India, and around the world.

Organized by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), the month-long show runs until May 31 and centers on themes of resistance, identity, displacement, and solidarity. Contributions span a range of media—paintings, installations, graffiti, photographs, and digital prints—each capturing deeply personal and political narratives.

Among the standout works is “Searching for Life” by renowned Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, which depicts three women combing through the rubble amidst fire and destruction—a powerful visual reference to the devastation in Gaza. Other significant contributions include “The Wave” by sculptor Abdul Rahman Katanani, a massive barbed-wire wave symbolizing the Gaza Sea, and “Homes for the Disembodied” by Mary Tuma, which memorializes displaced Palestinians.

Many Palestinian artists were unable to send physical works due to ongoing violence and blockades. SAHMAT responded by producing large-scale digital printouts, ensuring that these voices were still seen and heard. “The world needs to see the relentless injustice inflicted upon unarmed Palestinians,” said SAHMAT member Suhail Hashmi. “Just as the world once supported India’s freedom struggle, we must now stand for justice in Palestine.”