At seventy-something, the renowned Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour is on a roll. Recently based in Jerusalem, he has ventured to Turkey to receive an honorary award, a testament to his decades-long influence in the art world. But that’s not all; he has also completed and presented a significant new commission for a museum in Palestine, marking another milestone in his illustrious career. Moreover, this April, he is set to showcase new works at the prestigious Art Dubai fair, further solidifying his reputation as a contemporary artist who refuses to fade into the background.
Mansour’s ongoing artistic journey is particularly inspiring given the challenges he has faced. Following a heart attack, he has adopted a more measured pace in his creative process. “I try to paint every day. I try to maintain this pattern,” he shared with a gentle smile during an interview with Vogue Arabia. Despite his passion for painting, he acknowledges the limitations imposed by his health. “Before, I could sit in front of a painting for five hours and work. Today, I can do that for only one hour, then I become tired. So, I bring in people and teach them how to work,” he explains, highlighting his commitment to mentorship and the importance of collaboration in art.
Working alongside a small team, Mansour has returned to using mud—a medium he embraced during the First Intifada in the 1980s. This choice is deeply rooted in a desire to utilize local materials and reject the products of occupation. However, today’s use of mud takes on a poignant new meaning. As cracks form on the wooden panels that hold the mud, they echo the fragility and sorrow present in the contemporary Palestinian experience. “There is no colour when I look at current Palestinian artworks. It’s all muted,” he observed. “You feel like it’s all about the destruction in Gaza,” capturing the duality of creation and loss that permeates his work.
Recently, Mansour collaborated with three fellow Palestinian artists—Nabil Anani, Vera Tamari, and Tayseer Barakat—who, like him, were part of the New Visions art group. Together, they were commissioned by the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit to create new works. Their collective efforts aim to enrich the museum’s permanent collection, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of contemporary art from Palestine. This collaboration not only strengthens their individual artistic voices but also serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and creativity that can emerge even in the shadow of adversity.
