A huge moon sculpture has been installed in a refugee camp – as a show of “solidarity” to Palestinians.
British artist Luke Jerram was invited several times to display his installation, Museum of the Moon, in Israel, he claims.
But he instead decided to bring it to Aida Camp in West Bank.
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s most enduring, beginning in the mid-20th century.
The moon measures a whopping seven meters in diameter and recreates NASA imagery on its surface.
Luke said: “I’d like the peace and beauty of the moon sculpture to help highlight the ugliness, brutality, injustice of the concrete walls which are trapping and confining Palestinian communities.
“The moon has great significance in Arabic cultures as a symbol of love and beauty, which was also used for centuries as a light source for navigating the desert at night.
“I’ve been invited to present my touring artwork, the Museum of the Moon, in Israel several times now but have always refused because of the situation here.
“I’ve opted instead to present my artwork in Aida Camp, to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Partially surrounded by 8-meter-high concrete walls, Aida Camp is one of more than 60 Palestinian refugee camps.
Luke lived voluntarily at the camp for a week to learn about life there before he chose to install his moon artwork there, he said.
The moon is displayed in front of one of the high walls in the camp – and appears to glow in the dark at night.
A spokesperson from Alrowwad, a not-for-profit community arts organization in the camp, said: “For the first time ever, the Moon will be close and not in the sky behind the wall.”
Touring since 2017, the Museum of the Moon has been presented over 300 times in more than 30 different countries.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
