Sliman Mansour's funeral takes place in hometown Birzeit as mourners gather to honour Palestinian artist

In Birzeit, Palestine, a funeral service was held for renowned artist Sliman Mansour yesterday, attended by family, friends, cultural figures, and senior officials. Mansour, hailed as a "Giant of Arab art," passed away at the age of 79. The burial occurred at 5pm on Wednesday, August 26, at St Peter's Church in Birzeit. Condolences were extended post-burial at the town's Grand Hall.

As the hearse journeyed to the church, a crowd of mourners followed, paying their respects. Church leaders and bagpipe players led the procession, with olive branches, a motif in his famous works, draped over the open casket.

Outside the small church, mourners spilled into the streets to hear the service, with speakers set up outside. The Palestinian artist's death was announced on Monday, with funeral arrangements made public. The family shared their grief, describing the loss as a "great loss for Palestinian culture" and an end of an era.

Conciliatory gatherings were held at The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit on Thursday and at the Terra Sancta Pastoral Centre in Beit Hanina, Jerusalem, on Friday. Mansour's family revealed the final chapter of his life in a statement, expressing their heavy hearts and acknowledging his enduring legacy. Born in Birzeit in 1947, Mansour was a prominent figure in Palestinian art for over five decades, shaping a visual language of Palestinian identity through his depictions of the land and experiences of displacement and occupation.

He graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem in 1970, drawing inspiration from his surroundings. Olive trees and traditional embroidery feature prominently in his paintings, while Jerusalem symbolizes longing in his work.