In the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, an important site with biblical associations, stands a remarkable stone house that is 145 years old. It was built as a residential home in 1880 by Al Mukhtar Yusuf Jacir, and has lived through moments of joy and darkness, from family weddings to national uprisings. Today, , the house still stands tall and has been transformed into a cultural space and an artist-run hub, called “Dar Jacir,” hosting workshops and artist residencies for a decade now.
“From its inception in 2014, it was meant to be a space that would be led by artists and led by women. We felt that it was really important to show by example that women can lead programs,” Dar Jacir’s co-founder, descendant of the property’s builder, and visual artist Emily Jacir told Vogue Arabia. Surrounded by an abundant garden and terraces, the property is a personal place for Jacir, who grew up between Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
“This house, the land, and the trees around it were a primary source of inspiration for me as a young artist when I was a student,” she said. “I was painting the fruits that were growing on this land, so it’s always been closely connected to me personally. We see the land also as an archive the way that the house is an archive. Its architecture tells a story. All the land surrounding Bethlehem has now been lost, so we have no more access to our own agricultural land, which makes that all the more precious.”
