- Title: Palestinian artist preserves Gaza's books, history through origami
- Date: 1st October 2019
- Summary: NUSSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN ORIGAMI ARTIST, AHMED HUMEID, FOLDING BOOK PAGES HUMEID HOLDING BOOK HE FOLDED USING ORIGAMI STYLE VARIOUS OF BOOKS / HUMEID WORKING HUMEID PUTTING FOLDED BOOKS ON DISPLAY BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN ORIGAMI ARTIST, AHMED HUMEID, SAYING: "There is great potential for this art in Gaza, let's say that the raw materials are available. There are many books that are imported to the Gaza Strip, whether through Erez crossing or other places from where these books come from to Gaza, that's when I started to look for books that I would use to make this art." VARIOUS OF HUMEID FOLDING BOOK PAGES VARIOUS OF BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN ORIGAMI ARTIST, AHMED HUMEID, SAYING: "I believe that these books are valuable. However, through the art I make, any book that is folded can be unfolded again and brought back to its original form. We are only folding not cutting the books. These books can be returned back to their original shape. The idea behind this art is to recreate these books in another way instead of tearing them apart or to leave them like this (referring to another unfolded book) in bad shape." GAZA CITY, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS) HUMEID WALKING DOWN STREET WHERE BOOKS ARE BEING SOLD ON SIDEWALK / HUMEID PICKING UP BOOK BOOKS FOR SALE ON SIDEWALK / HUMEID LOOKING AT BOOK BOOKSELLER, MOHAMMED SAED, WALKING BY SIDEWALK WHERE BOOKS ARE SHOWN BOOKS ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BOOKSELLER, MOHAMMED SAED, SAYING: "Today, people are selling books they keep at home, they're selling their collections." JOURNALIST ASKING: "Because of lack (of money)?" "Because of lack of money. I meet old people who ask me to come and buy their books. I look at their home libraries and they tell me they have no money, they want to make a living for their children." BOOKS ON SIDEWALK GRAFFITI ON WALL READING (Arabic): "Art Academy"
- Embargoed: 15th October 2019 15:59
- Keywords: Origami art Arts in Gaza Gaza-based origami artist Art Palestinians Books
- Location: NUSSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP AND GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: NUSSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP AND GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZ9NP79
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A Palestinian origami artist is giving used books usually sold on the sidewalks of Gaza's streets a makeover.
Ahmed Humeid, buys the books and then folds the pages to save them from ruin.
The 29-year-old was drawn to the idea after noticing almost a year ago that hundreds of used books are left neglected on sidewalks without buyers.
Back then, he reached out to a Japanese origami artist from his small studio in Gaza's Nusseirat refugee camp, who provided him with an application to learn the art.
Humeid says by preserving the books in this way, he is also building on the history of the besieged strip as a cultural and trade centre where books were brought from various places.
In the beginning, a single book used to take him up to 15 hours to finish. Today after much practice, he finishes one book in four hours.
The price of one piece ranges between $28 to $115, depending on its size. He sells his books to clients in Gaza and ships some of his items internationally.
(Production: Mohammad Shana, Suheir Sheikh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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