The mural was a product of the ‘Shatila Street Art Project’. This project saw 3 teachers and 10 children from Lebanon’s Shatila refugee camp visit North Tyneside, where they received sketching and spray-painting lessons before creating the piece, artistically reflective of friendship. Upon the mural’s unveiling to the public, the group of young artists performed ‘Dabke’ - a form of traditional Palestinian dance. This glorious cultural exchange was commemorated through the mural’s decade long residence in the station, which saw no incidences of vandalism right up until the piece was dismounted. The mural was an iconic and prominent part of the station’s set up, this metro station being particularly notable for its weekend markets which attract hundreds of visitors each weekend, all witness to this vivid and potent backdrop.
The removal of the mural is troubling - it seems to suggest a removal of Palestinian solidarity from the North Tyneside area, unrepresentative of the community who have rallied tirelessly against the council’s decision. The teenagers who got the chance to express and preserve their great culture - a culture under constant threat, no less - in a secure space shouldn’t have this privilege revoked - while the council states that this is for safety reasons, it reads more as a punishment. Teenagers who have already been displaced, who have to watch their country being torn apart on news streams, don’t deserve this. Awareness is such an important tool in liberation. Before the mural was taken away, this awareness existed as a mere scene for passers-by who were unconsciously affirming the Palestinian identity everyday through their glances as they made their way to their next stop. Now, Palestinians have been even further marginalised with the mural’s removal. There is no question. The mural should be reinstated.
If defacement is an issue, which unfortunately, it very well could be, there are practical measures that can be taken. Protective covering, security, cameras - the options are there. So therefore, this doesn’t seem sufficient reason to take away not only an iconic artwork, but a key vehicle in fostering cultural understanding and displaying the stark resilience of Palestine.