Hasan (Hassan) Hourani ( ar, حسن حوراني, 1974 – August 6, 2003) was a Palestinian artist, born in Hebron,

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

. He attended the College of Fine Art in Baghdad, Iraq from 1993-97. In 2001 he presented his one-man show "One Day, One Night" in the UN building in New York City. He then studied at the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stu ...

and continued to live in the city for several years. His work has been exhibited in

, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, South Korea, New York and Houston. In 2003, he returned home for a visit. Like nearly all West Bank Palestinians, he had been barred from traveling across the

Green Line Green Line may refer to: Places Military and political * Green Line (France), the German occupation line in France during World War II * Green Line (Israel), the 1949 armistice line established between Israel and its neighbours ** City Line ( ...

to see the sea for many years; but during this trip home, he was able to visit the Mediterranean shore. On August 6, 2003 he went swimming with his young nephew Samer Abu Ajamieh and their girlfriends from

Ramallah Ramallah ( , ; ar, رام الله, , God's Height) is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank that serves as the ''de facto'' administrative capital of the State of Palestine. It is situated on the Judaean Mountains, north of Jerusale ...

, and both drowned near the Port of

Jaffa Jaffa, in Hebrew Yafo ( he, יָפוֹ, ) and in Arabic Yafa ( ar, يَافَا) and also called Japho or Joppa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, is an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the b ...

''Hassan Everywhere''

At the time of his death, Hourani had completed only 10 of the 40 drawings that make up his whimsical children's book, ''Hassan Everywhere,'' in which the character ''Rihan'' roams the world in search of the rose of love. That year, his drawings were exhibited at Al-Hoash's grand opening in Jerusalem, and the next year

A. M. Qattan Foundation The A. M. Qattan Foundation is a not-for-profit developmental organisation based in Ramallah, West Bank, State of Palestine, Palestine. It was founded in 1993 by the Palestinian businessman and politician Abdel Mohsin Al-Qattan. The chairman is h ...

, a Palestinian cultural foundation, established the Hassan Hourani Young Artist of the Year Award. In 2004 the Qattan Foundation compiled his completed stories and half-rendered drawings, and published ''Hassan Everywhere.'' Hassan's friends are the birds, bees, fishes in the sea and fearful beasts, as he journeys alone but makes his home everywhere. The Paltel Virtual Gallery of

Birzeit University Birzeit University (BZU; ar, جامعة بيرزيت) is a public university in the West Bank, in the State of Palestine, registered by the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs as charitable organization. It is accredited by the Palestinian Mi ...

writes that Hassan embodies the local as well as the world traveller, from ancient Egypt to the rooftops of New York: "Hassan rides the waves, is fed by the birds, flies on his magic bicycle, sits on the rooftops, always looking on to see the panorama of the world. Finally, the freedom of flight and travel of Hassan in 'Hassan Everywhere' carries particular resonance in the context of the confinement of Palestinians for whom such freedom is a dream."

Dorit Rabinyan

Dorit Rabinyan Dorit Rabinyan ( he, דורית רביניאן; born September 25, 1972) is an Israeli writer and screenwriter. Biography She was born in Kfar Saba, Israel, to an Iranian-Jewish family. She has published three novels, two of which have been wi ...

's book ''Gader Haya'' ("Hedgerow" - English title: ''

All the Rivers ''All the Rivers'' (Initially referred to as ''Borderlife'', ( he, גדר חיה ''Gader Chaya'', literally: "Hedgerow") is a 2014 novel written by Israeli author Dorit Rabinyan, published by Am Oved in May 2014.Kashti, Or.Israel Bans Novel on Ar ...

'', novel), 2014 [גדר חיה Gader Chaya) is dedicated to Rabinyan’s former lover, Hassan Hourani, who drowned in 2003. She wrote a poignant farewell to him in ''The Guardian''.

References

External links

International artist databaseBirzeit university catalog of ''Hassan Everywhere'' drawings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hourani, Hasan Artist authors 1974 births 2003 deaths Deaths by drowning People from Hebron Accidental deaths in Israel Palestinian children's writers Palestinian contemporary artists