A new exhibition in Turin, Italy, titled "Gaza, The Future Has an Ancient Heart," brings together over 80 ancient artefacts from Palestine with contemporary works by Levantine artists. Organized by Fondazione Merz in collaboration with the Egizio archaeology museum and the MAH – Museum of Art and History Geneva, the show features objects dating from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman period, originally intended for a museum in Palestine but held in Geneva since 2007 due to conflict. Contemporary artists including Mirna Bamieh, Samaa Emad, Khalil Rabah, Vivien Sansour, Wael Shawky, Dima Srouji, and Akram Zaatari contribute works that explore archaeology, history, and memory, with Emad's "Genocide Kitchen" documenting recipes created amid war and shortages in Gaza.
The exhibition matters because it uses art and archaeology to draw attention to the urgent need to protect Palestinian history and heritage, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. By juxtaposing ancient objects with contemporary responses, the show highlights Gaza's historical role as a cultural crossroads while addressing current humanitarian crises, such as starvation and displacement. It also underscores the precarious status of Palestinian cultural heritage, as the 500-piece collection remains in temporary custody abroad, and amplifies the voices of artists who document survival and resistance through their work.