Back to Future Palestine

Dutch Design Week October 2025

  • Backlit display of various ceramic vases of different shapes and sizes.

    ‘Back to Future Palestine’ is a time capsule of a Palestine unbroken. An imagined continuity drawn from memory, family archives, and historic photographs

  • A reflection of a woman standing in a room, visible through a shiny, irregularly shaped, metallic surface.

    Karima Abboud, First female photographer / Palestine 1920’s

  • View inside a bag showing a black and white image of several shirtless men, including a man with a beard and a woman with sunglasses, with a background of orange fabric.

    Visions of what Palestinian life might have been if uninterrupted.

  • Close-up of a broken, off-white ceramic object with orange interior showing cracks and jagged edges.

    Fragile porcelain forms with torn, wounded openings invite closeness, but conceal a secret at their base: images of Palestine pre-occupation (1948)

  • Three people in a gallery observing illuminated sculptures that resemble large broken eggshells on a white display table, with a window in the background and a sign on the wall.

  • View of a seaside town through a small opening in a gray object, with orange-tinted glasses, showing buildings and water.

    Yaffa - Jaffa 1890

  • Close-up of a metallic and dark ceramic vessel with a wide, irregular opening showing an inner design featuring a black figure against a reddish-brown background.

    These fragments are not only moments from the past but speculative futures

Group of five women gathered around a display table inside a room with white walls, wooden trim, and a large window, engaging with the items on the table.
Two people with hats and backpacks looking at illuminated ceramic or plaster sculptures on display in a museum or gallery, with large windows in the background.
Two people observing art pieces in a gallery, one woman on the left taking a photo with her phone, and another person on the right looking at artwork near windows. Art display with illuminated objects in the center.
Two people observing a display case with white shells and minerals inside, in a room with wooden floors and windows.

“Back to Future Palestine” consists of fragile porcelain forms with torn, wounded openings concealing unseen fragments of Historic Palestine. They guard hidden worlds that only light can awaken. These are not only memories but speculative futures, envisioning a Palestine uninterrupted. For 77 years erased, they now endure, glowing back to life. Viewers are invited to approach, imagine, illuminate and peek. What is revealed—or left hidden—depends entirely on their gaze

“Among the works, one that particularly impressed me was “Back to Future Palestine” by Palestinian artist MaryAnn Jaraisy. The white, fragile porcelain vase-like container has a crack like a scratch on the top. Looking through this small gap, you can get a glimpse into life in “former Palestine,” including scenes of their school days and peaceful family holidays.”
— Naoko Yamamoto
Full article

Gaza Biennale

Lofos Art Project / Athens Sep. 2025

  • Tiles of Mass Construction. Gaza G. 2024

    Tiles of Mass Construction

  • A wall display of decorative tiles arranged in a grid, featuring various patterns in blue, white, and red colors. Tiles of Mass Construction. Gaza G. 2024

    Gaza Biennale

    In the Line of Fire. Miracles amidst Ruins.

  • A woman with brown hair wearing a red jacket standing in front of a framed artwork on a black wall, which features a colorful row of decorative tiles with various patterns, in a gallery setting.

    Gaza Biennale

    In the Line of Fire. Miracles amidst Ruins.

  • Illustration of a drone with a central eye design, surrounded by four smaller drones in a circular pattern, with decorative corner designs.

    Drones

  • Four hands holding blue decorative plates with small food items in the center, arranged in a circle.

    Famine

  • Two red and orange birds facing each other with their beaks touching, surrounded by multiple blue airplanes flying in various directions, with decorative blue swirl patterns in the corners.

    Birds & Jets

  • Apartheid wall decorates with blue floral pattern with flowers, leaves, and stems on a white background divided by black lines and small black dots at the top.

    The Wall

  • Pink security cameras mounted on pink poles among red botanical illustrations of flowers and plants.

    Watching you

  • Event poster for the Gaza Biennale 2025 at the Greek Pavilion, Kypsele Velvendou. It features a black background with a gradient whirl of warm colors and a white dove graphic. The text includes event dates, opening information, and details about screenings, panels, and curators.

    Gaza Biennale

    Athens Pavillion 2025

  • A large gathering of people attending a panel discussion in an art gallery, with some art paintings on the walls and a screen displaying images of hands making a craft.
  • Four women standing together at an art gallery, smiling at the camera, with colorful abstract paintings on the walls behind them.
  • Group of people at an art gallery, some taking photos, some listening to speakers, with artwork displayed on the walls.
  • Four people standing in front of an art gallery called 'ART PROTECT', holding books or pamphlets. The group includes two women on the left and right, one man in a suit, and a woman in a colorful dress. The gallery has large glass windows and a sign with a black silhouette logo.
  • Three women in colorful dresses standing together in an art gallery, smiling, with an abstract landscape painting on the wall behind them.
  • People viewing artwork in an art gallery with wood flooring and white walls.
  • Group of six women standing together in an art gallery, smiling and posing for the camera. They are dressed casually and have artwork displayed on the white walls behind them.

In the Line of Fire. Miracles amidst Ruins.