Rana Affo Bishara (1971)
رنا افو بشارة
Lives and works in Bethlehem
Rana Bishara is a Palestinian interdisciplinary artist born in Tarsheha. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and Women Studies from Haifa University in 1993 and a Master’s degree in Fine Art, on a Fulbright scholarship, from the Savannah College of Art and Design (United States) in 2003. From 2009-2011, Bishara headed the Art Department at al Quds University in Jerusalem. She works primarily in installation, conceptual and performance art. Her subjects and symbols are connected to the memory, identity and the heritage of Palestine often using iconic objects such as the cactus, olives, thyme/za’atar, hennah, and tar. Bishara’s work has been exhibited widely in Palestine and internationally.
Homage to Palestinian Childen in Israeli Prisons, Bethlehem, 2017.
BREAD FOR PALESTINE / BREAK THE SIEGE ON GAZA, PARIS, 2012
ZEIT AND ZA’TAR, CREMISAN VALLEY, BEIT JALA, 2011
HOMELESS PILLOW / RIGHT OF RETURN, PARIS, 2012
HOMAGE TO PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN ISRAELI PRISONS, BETHLEHEM, 2017
A TRIBUTE TO NAJI AL-ALI: GRAVE VISIT, PARIS, 2014
A TRIBUTE TO NAJI AL-ALI: DELIVERING THE SHROUD, AL SHAJARA VILLAGE, 2015
Awaiting, Homeless Pillow / March of Return, Northern Palestine and Lebanon, 2011
Crucified: Palestine Marathon – Freedom of Movement, Bethlehem, 2015
Rana Bishara combines performance with activism. Known for her performative actions in the street, often reliant on props and costumes, Bishara travels the world raising awareness about Palestine, Palestinians and the Right of Return. Her work often makes use of the kufiya (the traditional Palestinian scarf) associated with Palestinian Freedom; the cactus as symbol of resilience; and raises awareness regarding human rights abuses against Palestinian children.