Hop to Hope
Mounira Al Solh
Video/Film, Installation
2022
Hop to Hope is a beautiful portrait of the institution that Mounira Al Solh's grandmother founded in Beirut for people with special needs. A video diptych that portrays the people who live and work there, in a dignified and moving way.
Filmed in August 2021, during a peak moment of gas, fuel, wheat, water and electricity shortages in Lebanon, and during escalating economical crisis and political instability, the film takes a close look at the daily life and activities of an institute that takes care of people with special needs.
Situated on a mountain in Lebanon, the institute was founded by the grandmother of the artist in 1959, to facilitate a space for her son who was born with special needs, as to include him in society.
The institute is still active today, despite all the difficult living conditions in Lebanon. In 2021, at least 80 of such institutes were forced to close down, because of the harsh economic situation.
Persons
Mounira Al SolhSeries
Hop to Hope, a series of new works commissioned by Vleeshal
During the corona pandemic, the international nomadic program of Vleeshal could not take place as it was planned. Vleeshal transformed this program into a series of three commissions, which were granted to Mounira Al Solh, Helena Keskküla, and Rory Pilgrim. These artists were given the opportunity to develop new work, in dialogue with Roos Gortzak and Martha Jager. These new works will be presented in the following two years.
This work was made possible by the generous support of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Municipality of Middelburg.
