Nomadic Monument for Gaza
13 – 22 March

As part of the spring exhibition we refuse_d, M HKA is bringing the Nomadic Monument for Gaza to Antwerp — a travelling, interactive installation that commemorates, raises awareness and stimulates conversation. The monument is an initiative of an ad hoc collective of artists and architects from The Hague, accompanied by the HOPE Foundation, an organisation that supports children in conflict areas in building meaningful lives through art education. In collaboration with Cloud Force One, Het Toneelhuis, Uitgeverij Jurgen Maas and Tommy Simoens Gallery, a public programme is being developed around the monument, with discussions, exhibitions and performances that explore Palestinian culture and themes such as resilience, solidarity and resistance.

PROGRAMME: VOICES FROM GAZA

13.03: Opening of the Nomadic Monument for Gaza
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 19:00 – 21:00

13.03 – 29.03 – Victory by Joy by De Wolkenbreier
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 19:00 – 21:00

Victory by Joy marks the new era that Wolkenbreier launched on 14 August 2025 – his birthday. It is an artistic resistance project against the souring of our society.

Because if you look closely, there is no country in the world without special music, inspiring people, tasty food, talented athletes and artists. Creativity, passion and beauty can be found everywhere. Why shouldn’t we emphasise that? Why shouldn’t we make connections between all those possibilities, instead of driving people apart or feeding fear?

With Victory by Joy, Wolkenbreier consciously chooses joy as a force. Art as a means to bring people together, inspire them and offer perspective.

13.03 – 29.03 – Musical programme
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 19:00 – 21:00

As part of its Victory by Joy project, De Wolkenbreier has put together a surprising musical programme featuring: Firas Al Alwani, Madou & Weyters, Shun Owada, Bert Droushoudt, Rudy Trouve, Sorry To Ruin Your Party, Ehsan Yadollahi, Newborg, Oriana Dierinck and Myths and Muses.

In collaboration with: RADIO CENTRAAL (Antwerp), RADIO PIP (The Hague), RADIO SCORPIO (Leuven) and RADIO BNL (Paal-Beringen)

15.03: Conversations about literature
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 15:00-17:00

Literature from Gaza is hardly known in the Netherlands and Flanders. The series Voices from Gaza is changing that. Publisher Jurgen Maas and the Hope Foundation, which has been teaching art to children in Gaza for over thirty years, will publish at least one Palestinian novel or collection of stories that has not previously been translated into Dutch every year for five years. The selection is made in collaboration with translator Djûke Poppinga and Ton van de Langkruis, founder and former director of the Winternachten literature festival in The Hague, and a team of literary specialists in Gaza. The first title in the series, A Garden for Lost Legs by Mahmoud Jouda, was selected in September 2023 and published in April 2024. The second title, the short story collection The Man Who Looked Back by Amer Almassri, was published in June 2025. This year will see the publication of Nobody in the Cemetery by Shrouq Doghmosh.

During this afternoon, Helge Daniëls will talk to writers Mahmoud Jouda and Amer Almassri and translator Djûke Poppinga about writing in times of violence, loss and hope. We will explore how literature can be a voice for those who often remain unheard. We will also Skype with Shrouq Doghmosh in Gaza.

In this context of literature and resistance, the new issue of the Flemish literary magazine DW B, curated by Alara Adilow, is also presented. In “Bodies of Resistance”, the emphasis is on how bodies relate to power and norms and can simultaneously be places of resistance.

17.03 – 20.03: Philosophical workshops
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp

Pupils from Antwerp secondary schools and students from KASKA take part in a series of workshops. Starting with a simple question: What do you carry with you?, young people draw the outlines of objects from their pockets. What follows is a philosophical discussion about identity, memory, loss and what we leave behind.

21.03: Conversations about architecture: At the table, Gaza between resilience and destruction
Location: Bourla Theatre, Komedieplaats 18, Antwerp
Time: 17:30 – 19:30

More info >>

The images we have seen from Gaza in recent years leave little to the imagination. In this edition of “Aan tafel” (At the table), Palestinian architect and urban researcher Nurhan Abujidi discusses the “urbicide” – the “murder of cities” – that is being committed in Gaza (and elsewhere). But she also looks at the forms of resistance and resilience that have emerged among the Palestinians.

Nurhan Abujidi’s lecture will be in English. Afterwards, she will engage in a conversation (also in English) with philosopher and essayist Lieven De Cauter. Palestinian writers Amer Almassri and Mahmoud Jouda will read from their work (in Arabic, with Dutch translation projected).

22.03: Discussions about film
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Admission: free

Screening of Looking for Empathy, followed by a discussion.
With:

• Chokri Ben Chikha
• Jan Beddegenoodts

26.03: Opening INBOX: Before & Now
Location: M HKA, Leuvenstraat 32, Antwerp
Time: 18:00 – 21:00

A presentation of artworks created by Palestinian children.

29.03: Art auction
Location: former Raamtheater, De Vrièrestraat 36, Antwerp
Time: 15:00 – 18:00