When friends Féile Butler, of Sligo, and Mohammed Timraz, of Gaza, began swapping images of children’s art over WhatsApp in June last year, they could not have known that what began as a simple exchange of paintings and drawings between the children of both families was soon to become an international phenomenon.

Struck by an image drawn by seven-year-old Shahed Al-Zaqzouq, of her pet cat bleeding outside her home after a missile attack, Féile knew instantly that this insight into daily life for Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable inhabitants had to be shared.

In collaboration with Mohammed, just four weeks later, the exhibition HeART Of Gaza debuted in The Weir Gallery, Sligo.

Featuring 55 framed pieces by 14 Palestinian artists, ranging in age from 3 to 17, the success of this first exhibition led to an invitation to exhibit at Electric Picnic, attracting international attention.

From there, HeART of Gaza has continued to tour both internationally and nationwide throughout Ireland.

Now, Home: The HeART Of Gaza is on exhibition at Dance Cork Firkin Crane.

Yvonne Coughlan, chair of the board at the arts centre, describes the project as “a profoundly moving exhibition in Crane Visual that speaks to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of its young........

© Evening Echo