"Shockingly beautiful and evocative . . . the artists echo the feelings of Palestinians who have to make do with life in a divided, disfigured land."--Raja Shehadeh

In art and literature, walls are frequently used as powerful symbols of division. For the people of Palestine, however, the wall that cuts deeply into their land and society is all too real, snaking through over seven hundred kilometres of the West Bank. It throttles Palestinians, seals off Israelis, and all but guarantees perpetual ignorance, fear, and rage on both sides.

Keep Your Eye on the Wall brings together seven award-winning artist-photographers and four essayists, all responding to the Wall in images or words, specially commissioned for this book. The photographers present unique perspectives, whether documenting the journey of laborers across the barrier, the desolation of abandoned checkpoints, or the tattered posters of "martyrs" on a wall in Gaza.

Featuring the photographic work of Taysir Batniji, Raed Bawayah, Rula Halawani, Noel Jabbour, Raeda Saadeh, Steve Sabella, and Kai Wiedonh?fer, and the words of Malu Halasa, Yael Lerer, Christine Leuenberger, and Adania Shibli.

Olivia Snaije is the books editor for Harper's Bazaar Art and a reporter for Beirut's Daily Star. She was formerly executive editor at Alef, a London-based magazine covering Middle Eastern culture, and editor-in-chief of World Media in Paris.

Mitchell Albert was the program director of Writers' Centre Norwich and the former editorial director of PEN International. He is currently associate editor of Steppe, a magazine of Central Asian arts and culture.

Author: Olivia Snaije
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Saqi Books
Published: 04/08/2014
Pages: 192
Weight: 2.3lbs
Size: 10.20h x 7.90w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780863567599


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/07/2014

About the Author
Olivia Snaije: Olivia Snaije is the books editor for Harper's Bazaar Art and a reporter for Beirut's Daily Star. She was formerly Executive Editor at Alef, a London-based magazine covering Middle Eastern culture, and Editor-in-Chief of World Media in Paris.

Mitchell Albert: Mitchell Albert was the Programme Director of Writers' Centre Norwich, a UK literary development agency with an international remit, and the former Editorial Director of PEN International. He is currently Associate Editor of Steppe, a magazine of Central Asian arts and culture.

Raja Shehadeh: Raja Shehadeh is one of Palestine's leading writers. He is also a lawyer and the founder of the pioneering Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq. He is the author of 'Strangers in the House' and 'A Rift in Time', and winner of the 2008 Orwell Prize for 'Palestinian Walks'.