Gaza exhibition in Rome brings stories of resilience to European audiences

Rome – An acclaimed travelling exhibition showcasing the experiences of life in Gaza through art has arrived in Rome for the final stop of its European tour.

Gaza: Stories of Hope and Resilience, presented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with the support of the European Union, is open to the public in Piazza San Silvestro until June 28, offering visitors an intimate and powerful portrayal of life in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The exhibition features the work of Palestinian artist Ahmed Muhanna, whose paintings chronicle loss, endurance and moments of hope amid the devastation of war. Through more than 60 original works created inside Gaza, Muhanna documents the realities of everyday life under conflict while conveying the resilience of the people who continue to endure its hardships.

Among the exhibition's most striking elements are a series of paintings created directly on WFP food assistance boxes. The repurposed aid cartons, ordinarily used to deliver life-saving supplies, become canvases on which Muhanna records personal and collective experiences of war, transforming symbols of humanitarian relief into poignant works of art.

Visitors can also view a short documentary that accompanies the exhibition, providing insight into the artist's surroundings and creative process through his own testimony and reflections.

The Rome installation marks the culmination of a European tour that began in September 2025 and has travelled through nine countries and 16 cities, attracting more than 30,000 visitors.

Housed inside a specially adapted mobile exhibition truck in Piazza San Silvestro, the exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free admission.

Organisers say the exhibition aims not only to showcase artistic talent, but also to foster greater understanding of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and to highlight the importance of preserving hope and human dignity in times of crisis.

Media representatives wishing to visit or film inside the exhibition are invited to contact the WFP in advance to arrange access. Interviews with WFP representatives are also available in several languages upon request.

PS