Over 25,000 attend House of Wisdom's ‘The Dice Player: Mahmoud Darwish’ exhibition in Sharjah

The House of Wisdom (HoW) in Sharjah has drawn the curtains on its four-month exhibition “The Dice Player: Mahmoud Darwish”, attracting more than 25,000 visitors, including researchers, scholars, and prominent cultural figures. The exceptional turnout reflects the enduring resonance of Mahmoud Darwish’s legacy and his lasting presence in both Arab and global cultural memory.

Marking the exhibition’s success and the strong public engagement it generated, HoW announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Museum, the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, and the Barjeel Art Foundation to transform the exhibition into a travelling international exhibition. Starting from Sharjah, the exhibition will tour cultural institutions around the world, extending the reach of Darwish’s legacy and reaffirming his status as one of the most influential poetic voices in modern Arab culture.

Exhibition's success reflects public trust in Sharjah’s cultural initiatives

Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, said: “The Dice Player: Mahmoud Darwish’ exhibition reflects Sharjah’s vision of honouring leading figures of Arab culture and presenting their creative legacy to new generations. At House of Wisdom, we have transformed this tribute into an ongoing cultural project that extends from Sharjah to audiences around the world.

The exhibition opens a new window for Mahmoud Darwish’s works and documents to reach audiences who have not had the opportunity to encounter them before.

We are proud to sign an agreement that will take the exhibition on an international tour, expanding the reach of Darwish’s literary and human legacy and bringing this cultural experience to new destinations worldwide.”

She added: “The strong public engagement with the exhibition reflects the trust audiences place in the cultural initiatives led by Sharjah and House of Wisdom. It also demonstrates the ability of Arab culture to attract broad audiences when presented through a contemporary and open vision. Mahmoud Darwish continues to hold a significant place in Arab and global cultural memory, proving that poetry remains a powerful bridge for dialogue between cultures.”

The tracing Darwish’s life and literary journey from his early roots in the village of Al-Birwa to his lasting presence in Arab and global cultural memory.

Commenting on the agreement, Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, said: “In line with our commitment to supporting Arab art, we believe this exhibition will serve as a cultural ambassador for Palestine and Arab creativity, whose influence has transcended time and place. As it travels to cities around the world, it will also help strengthen engagement with international artistic and cultural institutions.”

Amer Shomali, Director General of the Palestinian Museum, said: “This step opens a new window for Mahmoud Darwish’s works and documents to reach audiences who have not had the opportunity to encounter them before, through an exhibition that remains faithful to the integrity of the content and the text.”

Laila Abbas, Director of Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre in Ramallah, Palestine, said: “This collaboration with HoW is significant because it broadens engagement with Darwish’s experience. It opens new avenues for discussing poetry, memory and justice. It marks an important step in supporting the Palestinian cause and amplifying its voice across the world.”

Four months and six facets of a renowned creative figure

The exhibition kickstarted on November 12, 2025 in the presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). It ran until March 13, 2026, at HoW, tracing Darwish’s life and literary journey from his early roots in the village of Al-Birwa to his lasting presence in Arab and global cultural memory.

The exhibition traces Darwish’s life and literary journey from his early roots in the village of Al-Birwa to his lasting presence in Arab and global cultural memory.

Organised across six thematic sections inspired by the faces of a dice, the exhibition explored key dimensions of the poet’s life through the themes The Son, The Poet, The Exiled, The Lover, The Activist, and The Absent Presence, offering insight into the personal, political, and artistic forces that shaped his work.

The exhibition also featured an interactive cultural experience that moved beyond conventional display, using audiovisual installations and multimedia elements to immerse visitors in Darwish’s poetry and prose while tracing the evolution of his creative vision across different stages of his life.

A diverse cultural and community programme

Alongside the exhibition, HoW organised poetry evenings and cultural activities for different age groups. These included an evening titled “The Butterfly’s Burden” inspired by a poem of the same title. The evening brought together writers from the UAE to discuss Darwish’s poetry and longstanding impact.

Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, said: “In line with our commitment to supporting Arab art, we believe this exhibition will serve as a cultural ambassador for Palestine and Arab creativity."

HoW organised an evening and a discussion panel titled “Stories, Poems and Music” with poet Dareen Shubair and musician Judy Samara, and moderated by writer Samia Ayish. A poetry evening titled “In the Words of Mahmoud Darwish” was organised by the Poetry Club and the Palestinian Cultural Club at the American University of Sharjah in collaboration with HoW.

As part of the Wisdom Talks series, HoW hosted Lebanese journalist and editor Ivana Marshalian for a session exploring Mahmoud Darwish’s literary journey. Marshalian reflected on her personal encounters with the late poet, as well as her book “I, the Undersigned...Mahmoud Darwish” that highlights human and intellectual aspects of Darwish’s experience.

The exhibition was organised in collaboration with several cultural institutions dedicated to preserving literary and artistic heritage, including the Palestinian Museum, the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation, the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, the Barjeel Art Foundation, and October Gallery in London, alongside the official sponsor Sharjah Islamic Bank. The exhibition also received support from the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.