Artist Talk--A Study in Conflict
Photos and talk by Dr. Zalman Amit
Friday, November 27
12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Talk begins at 12:30, followed by Q&A)
AST Library
Light lunch available
Presentation Description (from the artist)
The photographs forming the basis of this presentation were taken over a period of two years in the Palestinian occupied territories. The period under study was the latter part of the Second Intifada (2003-2005).
The project was a two fold affair. On one hand I intended to document life under a military occupation with all its cruelty and adversity. However, while concentrating on the job I began to realize that there is a great deal of beauty even in adversity and I became committed to the idea of documenting and recording it as well.
My observations revealed that as time progresses people involved in the conflict undergo changes driven by the role they play in the conflict. On one hand, the soldiers enforcing the occupation become less and less compassionate. On the other hand, as a great surprise to me, the people who are the subjects of the occupation seem to become more empathic and humane -- while at the same time becoming more angry.
Not only the people undergo changes in this conflict; the land itself changes. The occupation inflicts significant wounds on the land and in the latter part of the project I tried to document this phenomenon as well.
Thus, this presentation is dedicated to these aspects of a very difficult confrontation between two peoples.
Dr. Zalman Amit is an artist, retired scientist (Concordia University) and avid peace activist. He lives in Kingsburg, Nova Scotia.
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