- Title: Palestinian artist recycles rubbish into DIY decorations
- Date: 4th June 2017
- Summary: SHUAFAT, OUTSKIRTS OF JERUSALEM (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) ARTIST EMAN KHASHAN PREPARING TO WORK ON A PROJECT WITH HER NIECES VARIOUS OF KHASHAN AND HER NIECES REMOVING SUPPLIES AND TOOLS FROM BASKET TOOLS LAID OUT ON TABLE VARIOUS OF KHASHAN GLUING MATERIAL TO WOODEN BLOCK KHASHAN ATTACHING WOODEN BLOCK TO INTERIOR OF HOME-MADE CRAFT HOUSE DISCARDED COOKING UTENSILS LYING IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, EMAN KHASHAN, SAYING: "All of these are discarded items that I receive to recycle, which have already been cleaned and painted. For example, I have this cooking pot among other discarded cooking pots that I use. I might paint it and I have plenty of ideas of what I can make from this pot, for example I might add a traditional canvas to it and turn it into an art piece that represents our culture. Or I can turn it into a plant pot that is covered with decoration stones which would make it look unique." KHASHAN TAKING OUT BELT FROM BASKET KHASHAN WORKING METAL ITEM WITH PLIERS VARIOUS FO KHASHAN GLUING FINISHED METAL ITEM INSIDE HER CRAFT HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, EMAN KHASHAN, SAYING: "This piece is one I have worked on, it is recycled, almost all of it could be considered recycled. The original item was a discarded speaker that was used for weddings. People ask me how I get all these discarded items. I get them through telling my friends, family and my brothers that whoever has a discarded item they can bring it to me, and this item was brought to me by my brother who knew I would make a piece or art out of it." DISCARDED ITEMS LYING IN BOXES VARIOUS OF KHASHAN CARRYING HER DOLL HOUSE KHASHAN PUTTING HER DOLL HOUSE CRAFT ON DISPLAY ALONG WITH OTHER HOME-MADE RECYCLED ITEMS KHASHAN REARRANGING GLASSES ON RECYCLED TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, EMAN KHASHAN, SAYING: "I have been making recycled items into decorations since I was young, in addition to drawing, making plastic art and handcrafts. I have become distinguished for my recycled craft work. I make a lot of art pieces for the home and furniture in a unique way, each piece is different. I consider this kind of art, recycling, as environmentally friendly art, I feel obliged to nature and to try to be less of a burden on it. I also want to send a positive message and play a positive role in this place I am living in and I consider this role (of preserving nature) starts with me and the people around me." RECYCLED TABLE MADE BY KHASHAN KHASHAN WITH HER FRIEND, NAWAL TAWEEL, WHO BRINGS HER DISCARDED ITEMS VARIOUS OF KHASHAN REMOVING DISCARDED ITEMS BROUGHT BY HER FRIEND TO EXAMINE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FRIEND OF KHASHAN, NAWAL TAWEEL, SAYING: "She makes creative pieces, I liked her work in recycling and maintaining the environment, so I started telling everyone around me to not throw anything away so I could bring it to my friend Eman Khashan and she will create a masterpiece out of it, she is creative." KHASHAN AND TAWEEL GOING THROUGH DISCARDED ITEMS
- Embargoed: 18th June 2017 16:08
- Keywords: DIY decorations homemade decorations Jerusalem refugee camp Shuafat Palestinian
- Location: SHUAFAT, OUTSKIRTS OF JERUSALEM
- City: SHUAFAT, OUTSKIRTS OF JERUSALEM
- Country: Jerusalem
- Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JV3UJ9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Palestinian artist Eman Khashan has found a special way of helping the environment while bringing unique cheer to an often neglected part of the world.
Khashan, who lives in the Shuafat Refugee camp on the outskirts of Jerusalem, has made sure everyone she knows keeps hold of their unwanted household items, adding them to a growing personal collection that she reworks into unique designs with a cultural twist.
"I have been making recycled items into decorations since I was young, in addition to drawing, making plastic art and handcrafts," Khashan said. "I have become distinguished for my recycled craft work. I make a lot of art pieces for the home and furniture in a unique way, each piece is different. I consider this kind of art, recycling, as environmentally friendly art."
With the help of her nieces, Khashan is currently working on transforming some of her latest salvaged selections into improvised artworks such as small doll houses, which in future she hopes to exhibit.
"I feel obliged to nature and to try to be less of a burden on it. I also want to send a positive message and play a positive role in this place I am living in and I consider this role (of preserving nature) starts with me and the people around me," Khashan said.
Khashan's makeshift workshop in her modest home bristles with remnants destined for recycling such as cooking pots, broken drawers, parts of trays and even belts that people no longer need.
"People ask me how I get all these discarded items," Khashan said. "I get these items through telling my friends, family and my brothers that whoever has a discarded piece they can bring it to me."
One of Khashan's friends, Nawal Taweel, regularly brings discarded items that she collects from her family and friends.
"She makes creative pieces, I liked her work in recycling and maintaining the environment," Taweel said. "So I started telling everyone around me to not throw anything away so I could bring it to my friend Eman Khashan and she will create a masterpiece out of it."
Khashan puts many of her artworks on show at bazaars and sells some of them on request, commanding prices ranging from 20 Shekels (5.6 U.S Dollars) to 700 Shekels (197 U.S Dollars), depending on the size of the piece and the work she has put into it. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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