We go back to 1931, when Palestinian journalist Issa El-Issa visited Paris's Colonial Exhibition and discovered Palestinian pavilions had been co-opted by British and Zionist organizers. This experience led the journalist to organize an Arab Exhibition in Palestine in 1933. Historian Nadi Abusaada discusses Resurgent Nahda, a book he recently researched and edited, and takes us through the exhibition of the same name at Dar El-Nimer in Beirut. The discussion covers the key contributors, artworks, and crafts displayed at the exhibition in Mandate Jerusalem, along with its organization and its role in promoting Arab unity. It also highlights the tragic fate of the Palace Hotel in Jerusalem, which hosted the exhibition and was later repurposed by British and Israeli authorities.
00:00 Introduction
01:51 Discussing the Book Resurgent Nahda
02:35 Origins of the Arab Exhibition Idea
04:48 Organizing the Arab Exhibition
05:38 Themes and Contributions of the Exhibition
08:36 The Role of Exhibitions in Nationalism
09:17 Historical Context and Modern Relevance
10:43 Contributors and Their Works
12:05 Exploring the Exhibition’s Layout
14:12 Notable Artists and Their Contributions
23:41 The Urgency of Arab Exhibitions
26:04 Mother of Pearl Craftsmanship in Bethlehem
28:45 The Tragic Story of the Palace Hotel
33:40 Tour of the Art Exhibition at Dar El-Nimer
34:08 Contributions and Featured Artists
38:10 Historical Artifacts and Their Significance
48:05 Rediscovering Yvonne Howa
50:12 Final Thoughts & Future Exhibitions
Nadi Abusaada is a Jerusalem-born architect and historian. He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture and Design at the American University of Beirut (AUB). His work focuses on the material histories and visual cultures of the modern Arab world. He is the co-editor of “Arab Modern: Architecture and the Project of Independence” (gta Verlag, 2025) and editor of “Resurgent Nahda: The Arab Exhibitions in Mandate Jerusalem” (Kaph Books, 2024). Nadi has earned his Ph.D. and M.Phil. degrees in architecture at the University of Cambridge and his B.A. in architecture at the University of Toronto. He has also held various prestigious academic fellowships including the ETH Zürich Postdoctoral Fellowship at ETH Zürich and the Aga Khan Postdoctoral Fellowship in Islamic Architecture at MIT. Before joining AUB, Nadi has taught subjects related to the history and theory of architecture and urbanism at Cambridge, MIT, and ETH Zürich.
Connect with Nadi Abusaada 👉 https://instagram.com/nadi.saadeh
Hosted by Mikey Muhanna
Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu
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