Come to a lecture in which the artist Nour Shantout will discuss the history of political application of Palestinian embroidery, a practice that emerged from the struggle for Palestinian liberation. The lecture will take place at the Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery, directly within the exhibition grounds of the 2026 Biennale Matter of Art.

Palestinian embroidery transformed from a domestic practice used for personal purposes into a political tool and a way of counter-mapping Palestine after the 1948 Nakba. For instance, “intifada dresses” emerged a few months after the First Intifada (uprising) in 1987. They featured the Palestinian map along with the Palestinian flag, olive branches, and the Dove of Peace, in addition to traditional motifs and political slogans. Palestinian women embroidered these dresses and wore them during protests; they stitched the Palestinian flag and wore it when it was banned. In this lecture, the participants will learn about the history of Palestinian embroidery in relation to protest and to the anti-imperialist feminist movement in Palestine. Nour Shantout will also teach the cross-stitch technique. 

More information here.