Dima Srouji: Glass, Excavation, and Palestinian Histories

Dima Srouji, an architect and artist, delves into Palestinian culture and trauma through her glass art. Splitting her time between Ramallah and London, she was a Jameel Fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2022, focusing on ancient glass artifacts from Palestine. Her exhibition, 'She Still Wears Kohl and Smells Like Roses,' showcased eight glass sculptures modeled after Roman-era cosmetics vessels during the London Design Festival, along with a film about Palestinian glassmaking. Srouji challenges the perception that Roman pieces hold more value than modern works from Nablus. Since 2016, she has been involved with a family glass studio in Palestine, and her installation for the Jeddah Islamic Art Biennale addressed the destruction of stained glass windows at sacred sites. Her 2020 film, 'Sebastia,' juxtaposes historical footage with current views of archaeological sites. After Trump's 2016 election, she returned to Palestine, and her video on Palestinian glass premiered at the V&A and later at Tai Kwun Museum in December 2023, where she pushes for the return of cultural artifacts to their roots.