Gaza Biennale – The Istanbul Pavilion: Public Program
September 19 @ 12:00 - November 8 @ 17:00
September 19 – November 8, 2025
The public program of the Gaza Biennale – The Istanbul Pavilion includes Palestinian film screenings, poetry and music evenings, writing workshops, table of scholars, walk-throughs, performances, and more. Depo will also host frequent in-situ conversations with the Gazan artists.
Upcoming Events
October 1, Wednesday, 19:00
Walter Benjamin – On The Concept of History (annotated)
A philosophical experiment in four languages.
Walk-through performance with Patrizia Bach, Khaled Alsaid, Aslı Odman, A.S. Bruckstein Çoruh.
October 2, Thursday, 19:00-20:30
Global Solidarity Music Journey with DJ Omar Aena & Ali AlDallal
October 4, Saturday, 19:00
Palestine and Syria Films
All films will be screened with Turkish and English subtitles. Registration is not required.
- Artist From Gaza
Director: Gaza Biennale
Palestine, 2025, 10’
Art from Gaza becomes the first language of truth—each artist capturing essential moments of resistance by creating in the most difficult times.
- Man Number 4
Director: Miranda Pennell
UK, 2025, 20’
Gaza, December 2023: A confrontation with a disturbing photograph on social media triggers questions about what it means to be an onlooker.
- A Portrait of Michel
Director: Christine Gedeon
Syria-USA, 2025, 44’
Talk with Christine Gedeon, the director of A Portrait of Michel.
A Portrait of Michel is an investigative video portrait that retraces the mysterious 1978 abduction of the filmmaker’s uncle by the Hafez al-Assad regime, uncovering fragments of his fate through witnesses, prisons, and silence.
October 5, Sunday, 12:00 – 15:00
Writing letters
A workshop in creative writing with Valérie Cachard:
Inspired by the exhibition “A Cloud in My Hand,” we will write letters that connect the intimate with the universal. Together, we will rediscover the epistolary form as a way to give voice to what is fleeting, unspoken, or hidden.
The event will be in English. Participation is limited to 10 people. To register:
valeriecachard@gmail.com
Past Events
September 19, Friday, 18:00
Opening of the Gaza Biennale – The Istanbul Pavilion: A Cloud in My Hand
Curated by House of Taswir in collaboration with Addar Center İstanbul, the Gaza Biennale Initiative, the Forbidden Museum of Jabal Al Risan in Palestine, and associated friends.
September 20, Saturday, 19:00
Opening of the Palestine Films, screening program moderated and introduced by Gülen Güler & Khaled Tanji. Film program starts with the screening of 5 short films and a talk with Waseem Khair, the director of the film Gaza Bride 17.
All films will be screened with Turkish and English subtitles, and the talk with Waseem Khair will be in English. All screenings are free of charge and registration is not required.
- Artist From Gaza
Director: Gaza Biennale
Palestine, 2025, 10’
Art from Gaza becomes the first language of truth—each artist capturing essential moments of resistance by creating in the most difficult times.
- Sweat
Director: Hasan Tanji
Palestine, 2016, 5’
From the sea of Palestine began the refugee’s journey, moving through exiles imposed by wars, where memories are killed and new ones are born. In a constant struggle with place and identity, the sea this time becomes the final path to exile.
- Waiting For Hasan
Director: Alper Şen
Turkey, 2022, 7’
In the middle of the battle, a sniper is trapped in an emplacement. While listening to the sounds of war at this moment, he cannot silence his inner voice.
- It Could Have Been Me
Director: Lina Abdulkari
Egypt, 2025, 12’
Seeing the harsh realities of life through your friends. A short film about coming of age.
- Gaza Bride 17
Director: Waseem Khair
Palestine, 2024, 20’
A fisherman from Gaza is trapped in his haunting memories. After losing his only child, he suffers from post-traumatic disorder that leads him on a psychological journey, reliving his tragedy in a different reality.
September 21, Sunday, 12:00
Table of Scholars: Mapping Gaza with artist and curator Hala Alnaji (Gaza/Malmö), participating artist Azza Ezzat (Cairo), Gaza Biennale artist Mohammad Suliman (Gaza/ Cairo) and members of House of Taswir.
The event will be in English.
September 23, Tuesday, 19:00
Music evening with the band Ayna Ayna.
September 24, Wednesday, 19:00
Poetry & Music Evening
Poetry readings with Palestinian poet Khaled Alsaid, moderated by writer and performer Valérie Cachard accompanied by Mohamad Salem on the oud.
The event will be in Arabic and English.
September 27, Saturday, 19:00
Palestine Films
- Artist From Gaza
Director: Gaza Biennale
Palestine, 2025, 10’
Art from Gaza becomes the first language of truth—each artist capturing essential moments of resistance by creating in the most difficult times.
- Abu Jabal
Director: Bisan Owda
Palestine, 2025, 20’
The dream of going back home, or to its ruins.
- Class Outside
Director: Aylin Kuryel, Fırat Yücel, Deniz Buga
Netherlands, 2025, 34’
A collective video-diary capturing everyday moments of resistance, in solidarity with Palestine.
- Awaiting For Appointment
Director: Tara Tarawneh
USA, 2023, 20’
An experimental documentary that explores the real and political dimensions of thirst.
September 28, Sunday, 12:00 – 15:00
Evocative Objects: Gazan stories told by objects
A workshop in creative writing with Valérie Cachard.
The event will be in English. Participation is limited to 10 people. To register:
taswir.projects@gmail.com
For more detailed information:
Gaza Biennale – The Istanbul Pavilion: A Cloud in My Hand
Image:
Mohammad Suliman, An Image from the Ruins, 2025.
Plaster, black pigment, iron wire, plastic gauze, sand, 2,5 x 2 m.
Courtesy of the artist.