| EXHIBITION MENU: | CLIFF HOTEL – AN ODYSSEY An exhibition by Kjetil Finne Sølvberget, 25 October 2008 – 8 February 2009 In connection with Stavanger being designated European Capital of Culture 2008, Sølvberget Stavanger Cultural Center is launching a major project under the title The Arts of Hospitality. The project challenges our notion of hospitality – in its very widest sense. Since 1996 Sølvberget has developed as an international centre for literature and free speech, arranging among other things an annual literature festival, Kapittel (Chapter). Each year the festival focuses on a particular theme and Kapittel 08 highlights walls, political as well as religious and cultural. Kjetil Finne, with his exhibition CLIFF HOTEL – AN ODYSSEY has chosen a theme that represents an important contribution to and is closely associated with both these projects. Kjetil Finne is an important contemporary artist, who lives and works in Stavanger. He has had a series of very fine individual exhibitions and his works have been bought and are exhibited in several museums of modern art and collections. He has also had several large public artwork commissions in the region. Sølvberget has previously presented his work in a solo exhibition in Gallery Sølvberget. The works in this exhibition take their inspiration from Cliff Hotel in Abu Dis on the occupied West Bank. For many years the hotel has been a meeting place for artists, writers, journalists and pilgrims. Kjetil Finne stayed and worked there for several periods over a number of years. The building of Israel’s separation wall has split the owners from their hotel and deprived them of their means of earning a living. The hotel is now occupied by Israeli soldiers and is falling into disrepair. For many Cliff Hotel has become a symbol of the unjustness the separation wall – and implementation of “The Absentee Property Law” has imposed on individuals. The Norwegian authorities have been concerned about this case for several years and have raised the issue with Israeli authorities. The case is still going on. This exhibition is based on photos taken over a period of 20 years, where text fragments and quotes from Israeli politicians form an important part of the exhibition. There are moves to arrange a national/international exhibition tour. We are proud to be the first to host this exhibition. Sølvberget Stavanger kulturhus 2008 Hildegunn Birkeland |
| ABOUT THE EXHIBITION | |
| CLIFF HOTEL - HISTORY SUMMARY | |
| MY STORY, by Ali Ayad | |
| ABSENTEE PROPERTY LAW | |
| SETTLEMENT UPDATE | |
| THE EXHIBITION | |
| SOURCE REFERENCES | |
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