Pasado inquieto is an exhibition as a documentary material and archive attempting to rebuild the narrative related to the international art exhibition in solidarity with Palestina Palestine (Beirut, 1978). The project proposes a speculative history of artistic practices and politically committed, in relation to the international movement of anti-imperialist solidarity which occurred in the early 1970's.
Pasado inquieto interweaves testimonies and memories – stories subjected to the tricks of memory - with documents found in private and corporate archives to embody a recent history which, however, has been forgotten. The result of the researching reveals an unexplored universe to date, in which networks of artists and activists who are united by the solidarity and political affinities, replaced the art marketing and produced a few representations of ideals and principles with high creative and counter-cultural content.
The International Art Exhibition in solidarity with Palestine was organized by the Section of Fine Arts at the Unified Information Office from the Palestine liberation Organization (PLO). The project could be carried out thanks to the vehement commitment on the part of a number of representatives from the PLO in several countries, as well as networks of solidarity among artists and activists from around the world who supported the Palestinian revolution. The exhibition presented the seed of a collection for the future «Museum in solidarity with Palestine from the exile», which should travel in a traveling manner until it could be replaced by Palestine free, and that approximately comprised 200 works by 200 artists from 30 countries.
In 1982, the Israeli army attacked Beirut and subjected the city to a military siege in order to force the PLO departure. The building where the collection was kept was bombed, as well as the offices of the Unified Information Office and documentary evidence of this exhibition. There, only remained the memories of those who had made it possible and who had visited it; and the catalogue of the exhibition, which became a valuable source of information to help to understand the enormous scope and scale of the project.
Researchers/curators: Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti
Advice: Paul Beatriz Preciado
Opening: February 19, 19:30 h local time.
Exhibition: February 20 - May 31, 2015
Museu d'Art Contemporani of Barcelona (MACBA)
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