Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine – an online discussion presented by Art Jameel, brings together three leading voices in the field of contemporary Middle Eastern art. Featuring Rachel Dedman, V&A Jameel Curator of Contemporary Middle Eastern Art; Amer Shomali, Director of the Palestinian Museum; and Nora Razian, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions at Art Jameel, the conversation explores the critical role of cultural institutions in preserving collective memories. Focusing on the rich heritage of Palestinian embroidery and drawing on the on-going exhibition at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah, the discussion highlights the power of cultural exchange and the impact of collections and exhibitions in shaping shared narratives. The panelists will delve into how institutions can encourage dialogues through exhibition formats and explore the intersection between contemporary practices in preserving historical traditions.

Drawing on the extraordinary collections of the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, ‘Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine’ explores both the historical and contemporary importance of the Palestinian tradition of tatreez – an ancient practice primarily undertaken by women, that reflects the social and cultural landscape of a turbulent history for the Palestinian people.

The discussion will take place in English.

Talk Outline 

8pm

Introductions, led by Nora Razian

8.05pm

Introduction to exhibition ‘Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine’, led by Nora Razian

8.25pm

Continued relationship with the Palestinian Museum, conversation between Rachel Dedman and Amer Shomali, led by Nora Razian

8.25pm

Cultural institutions and the preserving of memory, conversation between Rachel Dedman and Amer Shomali, led by Nora Razian

8.35pm

Panel discussion, conversation between Rachel Dedman and Amer Shomali, led by Nora Razian

9.05pm

Audience Q&A, led by Nora Razian

9.30pm

Closing remarks, led by Nora Razian

About the Speakers 

Rachel Dedman
Rachel Dedman is a curator and writer based in London. As Jameel Curator of Contemporary Art from the Middle East at the V&A, Rachel curates the triennial Jameel Prize, including exhibitions ‘Poetry to Politics’ (2021) and ‘Moving Images’ (2024). In 2020 she founded the V&A’s Jameel Fellowship programme, a research residency for contemporary artists. In her independent practice, Rachel specialises in fashion and textiles, and in 2024 was co-curator of the ‘State of Fashion Biennial: Ties that Bind in the Netherlands’. Between 2013 and 2019, Rachel was an independent curator based in Lebanon, where she curated projects across the Middle East and Europe. Trained in the history of art at St John’s College, Oxford, and Harvard University, Rachel lectures and teaches worldwide.

Amer Shomali
Amer Shomali (b. 1981, Kuwait) is a Palestinian multidisciplinary artist exploring sociopolitical themes through painting, film, digital media, installations, and comics. His work examines Palestinian revolutionary iconography and is held in major collections, including the British Museum and Barjeel Art Foundation. He co-directed The Wanted 18, an award-winning animated documentary that premiered at TIFF 2014 and was shortlisted for the 88th Academy Awards. Shomali holds a BSc in Architecture from Birzeit University and a Master’s in Animation from Bournemouth University. Based in Ramallah, he teaches at Birzeit University and serves as Director General of the Palestinian Museum.

Nora Razian
Nora Razian manages the exhibitions programme at Art Jameel across both Jeddah and Dubai, and contributes to curatorial thinking across the board. Previous roles include heading up programmes at the Sursock Museum, Beirut, and curating public programmes at Tate, London. She has an MA in Anthropology and Cultural Politics from Goldsmiths College, London, where she also designed and taught the MA course ‘Critical Pedagogy in Contested Space’ at the Centre for Arts and Learning.