By Marcelle Mansour

On 28^th Oct 2015, I was invited by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Sydney, Australia to exhibit and speak about the role of art in peace building, at the Parliament of NSW, in the presence of  the Hon Glen Brooks MP representing the Hon David Clarke, MP MLC, Mr Gregory Stone the President of UPF Australia, and a number of elite from the Australian Arab communities of writers, poets, doctors, artists, intellectuals, journalists and those interested in the artistic and cultural, social and political affairs. The audience varied from the Australian Communities of Lebanese, Egyptian, Jordanian, Iraqi, Syrian, Palestinian, and ambassadors of peace from other ethnic communities.

At the event, I addressed the topic of Threshold, The Art of Light and Perception for healing, renewal, and rebirth of world peace and spoke about my innovative art of light aiming to help to cross the Threshold of Transformation through Light and Perception Towards Peace-Building with Justice. I displayed a series of artworks that are a part of Threshold Art Exhibition which was created to be exhibited over the two years of 2014 & 2015, for it has coincided with the world‘s commemorating the centenary of the First World War, along with UN declaring 2014 as the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’. This year, the exhibition is coinciding and celebrating the 2015 International Year of Light, and also with the UN International Day of Peace with slogan says: “Partnerships of peace dignity for all.”, and also the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. It was previously and virtually exhibited in New York City during the Armory Week in March 2014; in Bankstown Arts Centre in April 2014, in Mary MacKillop Museum, North Sydney for four months from Dec 2014 until March 2015, at UPF embassy in April 2015, and recently a selected artwork has been exhibited at the Fifth Annual Award, International display at the Louvre Museum in Paris in July 2015, and currently at the Parliament of NSW in Oct 2015.

Jana Lajdova professionally performed the Master of Ceremony, The Hon Glen Brooks welcomed the attendees and stated that the Parliament of NSW is the oldest in Australia and it is available for all. Then he delivered a brief speech about art and light, highlighting the importance of light in the art, especially its uses in his work in the advertising company, he knows the value of light and what it could do in the sense of imagination and calmness. The Hon Glen Brooks in his own words: “Some of the artworks I can see here on display is what I consider is a great art and to have light work involved with the peace is a wonderful thing.”

Greg Stone, the UPF President Australia stated: “We are really happy to have Marcelle invited here to exhibit and to explain about her inspiring and stimulating exhibition tonight that is a beautiful display in light, for light talks about truth and beauty and we need light in our life and our world. Mr. Stone said: “The reason the UPF is involved in art is that there is a kind of foundation in our work and Marcelle’s work because UPF is dedicated to world peace, harmony and prosperity for all. We should all relate to each other as brothers and sisters as all one family created by God. Spirituality is a lead to our life we appreciate the importance of the moral principle that should guide what we do as strong families and communities. Our tradition is to teach the golden rule to serve others which makes amazing peace-building exercise for unity. We are very diverse in this world but we need to break down the barriers and dividers, it means we should appreciate the great diversity and break the barriers that dividing and creating harm, contributing to establish true love and peace.”

In my turn, I was able to deliver multiple presentations including the speech of my art conception of Threshold, reading my English exphrasis poetry of ‘Spiritual Dialogue with Light’ and my Arabic poem of ‘Come along to Change’, then a screen presentation that conveyed the message at the various numerous levels. I provided a brief history of my parents’ displacement from Jaffa, Palestine since the Nakba in1948, and my birth and life in the Gaza Strip, providing historical, cultural, intellectual, social and political presentation of the concept of the Palestinian cause, then explaining what is happening in recent times where Palestinian children and youth are being exposed to genocide and to the horror and terror of the Israeli occupation; “ The occupation and war is still on for 67 years and the peace talk keeps failing for 21 years.  “….What we  are seeing now is that more bloodshed only leads to more violence and hatred on both sides, without any fair logical solutions.” I also asked for prayer for those who lost their loved ones, and for children who became orphaned.

Then, I spoke on the topic of “How to cross the threshold through light and perception towards a just peacebuilding”. I explained at length about the concept of the art of light and perception in Contemporary Art, its objectives, aims and goals, and the motives that led me to create this work. “This comes out of my voice, as an Australian Palestinian Artist, I have a point of view that has been shaped by the impact of conflict and displacement, but also have a great love and sense of connection to my motherland. The impetus driving my work comes from a strong desire to see my motherland Palestine liberated, to be transformed by the light of peace and freedom, liberation and universal humanity that is in opposition to the barbarous occupation which is building a de facto reality on the earth.”

“Through my art, I present a kind of an intersection between me, my identity, my cause, the history and the world. In my vision, I visualize the reality of the world. Art is central to politics and to social relationships, for works of art can create reality, works of art can transform and transfigure our experiences in our continual remaking of the world. Therefore, I humbly wish for some politicians to have some creativity and spirituality, to help in gaining better guidance in making wiser decisions. Some religious leaders need to redirect and re-educate the new generation regarding the actual purpose of faith. Therefore, we really need a kind of deep transformation which will make a radical change to enable us to recreate our reality and reshape the world’s reality.”

“Inspired by both my roots in Eastern and Western Art and spiritual and philosophical traditions, I have explored the phenomena of perception as a path to self-knowledge. I focus on universal human experiences through phenomenology towards positive socio-political change via renewal of the inner soul. In my work, I paint with light as a focal point to explore the mystery and to reveal the invisible. This perception is appreciated by the spirituality within various religions or no religions, regardless of ethnic origins, because of the abstraction of nothingness or zero form. This may depend on people’s visions and thoughts, and that’s why viewers are a part of my work. I focus on light as a metaphor for knowledge and wisdom through phenomenological arts. Light is a manifestation, a presence, a source of the ‘holy’ and ‘sacred’ which enable us to experience the inner life. This is where the ‘invisible becomes ‘visible’ and the light shines out of the darkness and helps to transform us so that we become a source of light. Inspired by my roots in Eastern Culture, I have used materials and elements that have a significant meaning in our tradition such as gold leaf, alchemy, salt, frankincense, olive oil and earth dust, marble stones, holy bread and gauze that originated from Gaza my birthplace.”

“My art represents crossing the threshold of transformation. The shifting color of light while circulating represents threshold when a deep alchemical transformation happens to cause renewal and rebirth to exist which affect healing and embracing love and peace.”

“Through my creative works, I invite my viewers/ audience to cross the perception, to reveal the invisible truth, to be loyal citizens and to unite in peace and harmony. Through my art of light and perception, I want to enrich Australia and the world by creating a culture of Peace-building through crossing the ‘Threshold of Transformation for Healing, Renewal, and Rebirth. Painting with Light and Perception affects minds and senses -regardless of origin or religion, faith or no faith- to cross the ‘Threshold of Transformation’, to rethink ourselves and the world conflicts, for healing humanity and reshaping reality, towards changing War into Peace, Occupation into Liberation, Violence into Peacefulness, Terrorism into Elevations and Materialism into Spiritualism.”

At the end of the seminar, where the speakers provided important perspectives, it was the discussion’s time for questions and answers through the interaction between the Artist and the viewers, with an excellent positive audience’ feedback, where they could sum up and draw some conclusions of that peace with justice, freedom and humanity is the right of all peoples. It is great to paint with light and perception that may lead to transformation and change the world for the better.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officials of the Parliament of NSW for heir tireless efforts and the UPF members who organised the event, in particular, Mr. Greg Stone, and also the Arabic media representatives, including writers and poets, all the attendees and community members for their excellent support.

It is thrilling that I received a nomination for the ‘2016 Australian of the Year Award’. It says “Congratulations Marcelle Mansour on your nomination for the Australian of the Year Awards.”  The awards value individuals who are role models and inspirational for others and make a difference in the society locally, nationally or globally’.
It is overwhelming!

Wow!!! It is glorious receiving ‘Congratulations Marcelle Mansour on your nomination for the Year Awards’.

Thank you heartily for the nomination!! What a wonderful surprise. It is glorious and overwhelming. It is a great honour for me to get a great appreciation!

By Marcelle Mansour

I start my words hereby humbly saying that I have a great honor to be one of the global selected artists where one of my works has been selected and displayed at the Louvre Museum, Fifth Annual Exposure Photography Award, and presented in the International display at the Louvre Museum in Paris on 13 July 2015, and also was published in the book of the ‘Exposure Award 2015’.

The book: says: “The photographs within this collection represent some of the most interesting work of the Fifth Annual Exposure Award. It’s an honour to be able to share this work with you and with the world.”

The title of my artwork is ‘moonlife’ that I created and photographed. In addition to being me a practicing visual artist, poet and bilingual writer, journalist and active in the cultural activity, I also practise photography which I learned professionally by myself, but I use it mostly for my artworks, and for the subjects that I like and perceive in various ways.

Some people ask me to what extent do I appreciate photography compared to the fine arts that I practice? My answer is that the source of revelation in photography is wonderful, especially when I take the picture in its moment to be recorded and documented that lies in the memory and conscience of the mind. This requires a certain creative ability to reveal some kind of various perceptions about the presented subject by the person who stands in front of the eyes of the lenses. This is because individuals may differ from each other in terms of thinking, imagination, tendencies, trends, meditation, and outlook on life, that makes people see an image in different ways and that depends on the individual’s distinctive experience. An example is my artwork of Moonlife or the Bread of Life, I photographed it in a manner akin to the landscape, and especially it consists primarily of natural elements as the essence of creativity and looks very similar to the views of nature. The way it has been photographed led to the discovery of a lot of beautiful multi – hidden meanings which make it a source of inspiration for others.

About the conversation that lies between the creative image and the receiver, I would say that art of photography implies art of perception as a means used by the artist to make the picture effect in the eye of the recipient where seeing can be felt by the eyes. Viewers can discover more insights to detect the new vision of the beautiful subtleties underlying in the human sensations, mind, and conscience that reveal the hidden truth.

At the end of it all, according to artists’ capabilities, I believe that photography is a fantastic tool that complements other forms of arts. On this occasion, I would like to heartily thank both the SeeMe and Peecho teams for their wonderful work. I am also grateful to the judges for my work was favoured.

By Marcelle Mansour

British-Palestinian Ghada Karmi, doctor and the author of the book Return: A Palestinian Memoir who was forced to flee her homeland following the 1948 Nakba, Arab-Israeli war, is in a visit to Australia to various cities in different states. The event was organized by the Activist Coordinator Jennifer Killen through the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine – Sydney as a part of Sydney Writers Festival.

It was a good opportunity on Tuesday night the 1^st of September 2015 to attend Karmi’s first series of speeches at the La Cocina de la Abuela Mexican restaurant. Dr. Karmi discussed the contents of her recent book (Return: A Palestinian Memoir) which is an account of exile and the impossibility of finding a home. It captures the realistic stories which she witnessed during her trips to Palestine and various places. Dr. Karmi depicts the real life of modern Palestine where Palestinian people are still suffering and struggling under the occupation and oppression. The book of Return: A Palestinian Memoir contains memories of an individual journey that is full of bitterness and grief which describes the real Israeli Palestinian conflict. Dr. Karmi says in her book: “I remember looking down in a nighttime Tel Aviv from the windows of a plane taking me back to London and thinking hopelessly, ‘Flotsam and jetsam’, that is what we become, scattered and divided. There is no room for us or our memories here and it won’t ever be reversed.”

Dr. Ghada Karmi was born in Jerusalem in 1939, her family moved to England after Israel state was created in1948. She was educated and trained as a Doctor of Medicine at Bristol University and practiced in migrant and refugee health. She established the first British-Palestinian medical charity in 1972 and was an Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs she has held research positions on Middle Eastern politics and culture at a number of universities, including the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.

Her previous books include In Search of Fatima, A Palestininan Story (2002), Married to Another Man. Israel’s Dilemma in Palestine (2007) and co-editor of the Palestinian Exodus 1948-1989(1999).The book of Return: A Palestinian Memoir contains memories of an individual journey full of bitterness and grief that explains the real Israeli Palestinian conflict.

By Marcelle Mansour

Sts Michael & Gabriel Antiochian Church held its annual Dinner on Friday 28^th August 2015 at the Bellevue Reception Centre, under the patronage of His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The ceremony was attended by a crowd of priests, heads of organisations and social leaders with the participation of a large number of other churches parishioners with nearly 400 people.

Bishop Saliba threw an expressive speech on this happy occasion where he highlighted the importance of nurturing the rising generation of children and youth of the community, he also praised the continued support of the church from all aspects.

The Parish Priest of Sts. Michael & Gabriel Antiochian Church, Rev Fr Michal Zghaib thanked all the attendees including businesspeople, leaders of organisations, the media and all the flock of various dioceses. Then he delivered a brief speech in which he stated: “It is the one hundred percent responsibility of the church to provide spiritual and religious education while building the actual church is the responsibility of the people and the parishioners.” Fr Zghaib also highly praised all the parishioners for their fruitful contribution and tireless work and cooperation with all other churches. He also mentioned the main objective of the ceremony of this annual dinner is to get together to preserve the Christian presence in the light of love and peace.

The ceremony included the performance of creative singers: Vicky Maroun, John Khalil, Ghazi Nasouh Sayed Fares, as well as some sponsorships, donations and community activities.

The event was successful especially was attended by many of parishioners of other churches in an atmosphere of intimacy and love, as described by Father Michel Zghaib as: “A loving ceremony gathering dinner”.

By Marcelle Mansour

“Conversations in Peace” book was launched by Her Excellency Dame Marie Bashir – the former Governor of New South Wales – on Tuesday the 11^th of August at Gleebooks, Glebe. It is the first volume of the speeches which were delivered by Sydney Peace Prize recipients. The first 14 recipients of the Sydney Peace Prize (1998-2011) were selected from around the world. The book was edited by both authors Dr. Lynda-Ann Blanchard & Dr. Hannah Middleton.  A film of ‘Conversations in Peace’ was produced and screened under the auspices of philanthropist Steve Killelea and music was played by renowned Kurdish Artist Veli Toprak.

The book includes Nobel Laureates Muhammad Yunus and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former leader of Amnesty International Irene Khan, the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, environmental scientist Dr. Vandana Shiva, Aboriginal leader Patrick Dodson, and the inimitable academic activist Professor Noam Chomsky, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi and more.

According to the Editors of the book: “These inspiring individuals aspire to a future in which respect for human rights is universal and unchallenged. In highly creative ways they show how poverty can be eradicated, non-violence embraced, the rich and powerful persuaded that peace with justice is precious and that violence of any kind is not only contrary to any notion of a common humanity but also serves no purpose.”

“This volume not only pays homage to the wonderful recipients of the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s only international prize for peace but also serves to honour Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees AM, founder of the Sydney Peace Foundation and the Sydney Peace Prize.”