Hasan Hourani facts for kids

Hasan Hourani (born 1974 – died August 6, 2003) was a talented Palestinian artist. He was born in Hebron, Palestine. He studied art at the College of Fine Art in Baghdad, Iraq, from 1993 to 1997. In 2001, he traveled to New York City. There, he showed his art in a special exhibition called "One Day, One Night" at the United Nations building. He also continued his art studies at the Art Students League of New York. Hasan lived in New York for several years. His artwork was shown in many places, including Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, South Korea, New York, and Houston.

In 2003, Hasan returned home to visit his family. For many years, like most Palestinians in the West Bank, he could not travel across the Green Line to see the sea. But during this trip, he finally got to visit the Mediterranean coast. On August 6, 2003, he went swimming with his young nephew, Samer Abu Ajamieh, and their friends from Ramallah. Sadly, both Hasan and Samer drowned near the Port of Jaffa.

Hasan's Creative Journey: Hassan Everywhere

At the time of his death, Hasan Hourani was working on a children's book. It was a whimsical story called Hassan Everywhere. He had finished 10 of the 40 drawings for the book. In this story, a character named Rihan travels the world. He is searching for the "rose of love."

Exhibitions and Awards

In the same year Hasan passed away, his drawings were shown. They were part of the grand opening of Al-Hoash in Jerusalem. The next year, a Palestinian cultural group called the A. M. Qattan Foundation created an award. It was named the Hassan Hourani Young Artist of the Year Award. In 2004, the Qattan Foundation gathered his finished stories and drawings. They then published his book, Hassan Everywhere.

The Story of Hassan's Travels

In the book, Hassan's friends are birds, bees, and fish. He also meets some fearful beasts. He travels alone but finds a home everywhere he goes. The Paltel Virtual Gallery of Birzeit University describes Hassan as a traveler. He represents both local life and world travel. He goes from ancient Egypt to the rooftops of New York.

Hassan rides the waves and is fed by birds. He flies on his magic bicycle. He sits on rooftops, always looking at the world. The freedom of flight and travel in Hassan Everywhere is very special. For many Palestinians, this kind of freedom is often just a dream.

Dorit Rabinyan's Dedication

Dorit Rabinyan is an author. Her book Gader Haya (which means "Hedgerow") was published in 2014. The English title of this novel is All the Rivers. This book is dedicated to her friend, the artist Hassan Hourani. He sadly drowned in 2003. Dorit Rabinyan also wrote a touching farewell to him in The Guardian newspaper.