Dear readers and friends,
Ever since we went on hiatus, I always knew what I wanted October's theme to be: Anti-Israel. In fact, that was the working title for a long time, right up until we had to start working on the theme. That's when I realised that the true theme I wanted for October was the people; people who have fought against Israel, people who have rebuilt their lives or continue to reshape them, and people whose past lives have been erased.
We wanted to centre the people whose histories, lives, and identities are at stake.
The month of October features two very prominent days in its first half: the anniversary of Egypt's October 6 victory against Israel, an anniversary that Israel claims as its own victory yet Sinai being Egyptian proves otherwise, and the memory of October 7, a day when Hamas decided that enough was enough, on behalf of Palestinians, the only owners of their land.
Against Erasure doesn't apply only to Egyptians and Palestinians. It applies to all SWANA people, especially artists.
Artists who have spent their whole lives struggling under media censorship. Artists whose only medium was commercial work and politically correct stances.
But erasure doesn't always mean being completely forgotten.
Just as our heroes from the October 6 War remain among us and in our memories, art does too. One doesn't automatically forget how to create altogether after spending so long creating within set boundaries.
A writer doesn't lose their voice when silenced, a photographer doesn't lose their vision when prohibited, and an artist doesn't lose the ability to draw and paint when restrained.
In the same sense, Palestinians don't lose their ownership of the land when fighting genocide.
Those who try to erase others will never be the winners, because neither art nor existence can cease.
Throughout October, SUGARFREETALKS reinforces its position as a space without sugarcoating. For eight years, we have fought for the rights of artists to create without having their identities erased, and we will continue to do so.
In the month of October, we hope you use your voice to fight others' attempts at erasure; the erasure of art, the erasure of history, and, most importantly, the erasure of people.
With love and spirit,
nour.
Ever since we went on hiatus, I always knew what I wanted October's theme to be: Anti-Israel. In fact, that was the working title for a long time, right up until we had to start working on the theme. That's when I realised that the true theme I wanted for October was the people; people who have fought against Israel, people who have rebuilt their lives or continue to reshape them, and people whose past lives have been erased.
We wanted to centre the people whose histories, lives, and identities are at stake.
The month of October features two very prominent days in its first half: the anniversary of Egypt's October 6 victory against Israel, an anniversary that Israel claims as its own victory yet Sinai being Egyptian proves otherwise, and the memory of October 7, a day when Hamas decided that enough was enough, on behalf of Palestinians, the only owners of their land.
Against Erasure doesn't apply only to Egyptians and Palestinians. It applies to all SWANA people, especially artists.
Artists who have spent their whole lives struggling under media censorship. Artists whose only medium was commercial work and politically correct stances.
But erasure doesn't always mean being completely forgotten.
Just as our heroes from the October 6 War remain among us and in our memories, art does too. One doesn't automatically forget how to create altogether after spending so long creating within set boundaries.
A writer doesn't lose their voice when silenced, a photographer doesn't lose their vision when prohibited, and an artist doesn't lose the ability to draw and paint when restrained.
In the same sense, Palestinians don't lose their ownership of the land when fighting genocide.
Those who try to erase others will never be the winners, because neither art nor existence can cease.
Throughout October, SUGARFREETALKS reinforces its position as a space without sugarcoating. For eight years, we have fought for the rights of artists to create without having their identities erased, and we will continue to do so.
In the month of October, we hope you use your voice to fight others' attempts at erasure; the erasure of art, the erasure of history, and, most importantly, the erasure of people.
With love and spirit,
nour.
