Who is behind the Project?
Mahmoud
Hi, my name is Mahmoud. I am from West Jutland with strong Arab roots. It is precisely my Arab roots and the stubbornness of West Jutland that have made Hopeism come about. What is Hopeism to me?
Hopeism is an art project that gives me an outlet for my frustrations about the instability that I experienced as a child in Lebanon and that is still ongoing in that part of the world. It is a project that gives me peace and mental stability.
When I am asked to explain why I am doing this, my answer is long, and sometimes difficult to understand. The main point though is that we must have a common point of view and agreement on something we as humans see as "basic rights" that apply to everyone.
Who is behind the Keyboard and Camera?
Louise
Hello, my name is Louise and I have lived in Ramallah, West Bank, and experienced the conflict firsthand. As a journalist, I have written about the impact of the occupation on the everyday lives of Palestinians, as well as the challenges as seen through Israeli eyes.
Unlike the occupied West Bank, Gaza is a closed area. Even though I, as a foreigner, was been able to move freely between Israel and the West Bank, Gaza was completely off limits. Palestine and Israel is seemingly a source of endless conflict – and this was already the case before October 7, 2023. Since then, the dividing lines have become even clearer. There are so many different perspectives and emotions about the conflict that these are often the only thing we hear or talk about. Hopeism is about what we agree on - hope in the midst of a terrible war. It is about celebrating the people who make a difference: aid workers, health professionals, journalists, etc., who continue their work even in the face of so much death and destruction.