Patrick Baker's Nakba Exhibition @ Whanganui Arts - at the Centre

Description

Over the next week, in the heart of Whanganui you can view the beautiful and moving work of local artist Patrick Baker whose work centers around the people of Palestine and the 1948 Nakba.
The exhibition closes on May 15th 2024 - coinciding with 76 years since the Nakba.
The Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
History of the Nakba
Patrick's exhibition opening coincided with the presentation of a petition from Whanganui PSNA (Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa) to the Whanganui District Council.  History was made when they voted in favour of a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, making it the first local body to do so in Aotearoa.
At the close of the exhibition Patrick will auction off 3 of his artworks with the winning bids to be donations to UNRWA: United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in The Near East. Following this there will be a memorial by the awa to commemorate the Nakba and the ongoing devastation to Palestinian peoples in Gaza.
This is his artist statement:
“Haere mai,
I wish your thoughtful reflection. Excepting 'Peace Prayers' (2003) and 'Trinkets' (Whitianga 2022) the paintings reflect my solidarity with oppressed people of Palestine, mindful also of injustice within my own land of birth.
A just and peaceful humanity is a cause worthy of embrace.
Nga Mihi”
Artist exhibition video:
Video is here