Help us make history with The Lost Paintings project

Dear Friends and Art Enthusiasts,

My name is Joëlle Tomb, I am artist, art advocate, curator and humanist. I want to share with you an extraordinary story that began with a chance connection on social media and has grown into a profound journey of discovery, heritage, and artistic resurrection.

A few years ago, Haidi, an artist and documentarist, reached out to me with an incredible story. Our grandfathers had been friends and fellow artists in Haifa, Palestine, during the 1940s.

Some months later, I traveled to Cyprus to meet Haidi, where she unveiled historical treasures she had found in her grandfather's attic after his passing. Among these were three priceless artifacts: an invitation to my grandfather Maroun Tomb's exhibition dated November 29, 1947 (the day the UN General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into two states), a personal letter to Haidi’s grandfather Jack describing the opening night and the events leading to the Nakba, and a list of 53 oil paintings by Maroun, now lost to history.

These discoveries became the heart of The Lost Paintings: A Prelude to Return, a profound endeavor to reimagine and resurrect Maroun's lost exhibition by inviting 53 artists from Palestine and the diaspora to explore and create their own interpretation responding to one of the title of the Lost Paintings. This project examines loss and destruction and the transformative power of imagination and art, in shaping new futures.

Thanks to a Finnish grant from the Kone Foundation, Haidi and I have the privilege to collaborate with Rula, a Palestinian curator and art critic living in Haifa, to develop this project. We have made significant strides: building a network of talented artists, forging partnerships with institutions, and securing host organizations in the UK and Ireland, so far. Our goal is to take this exhibition around the world, sharing these stories and artworks with diverse audiences.

Now, we need your support to bring this vision to life. We are raising funds for the production & transportation of the artworks and the creation of a commemorative catalogue. Your contribution will help us share new narratives, and celebrate the resilience of art and culture.

Help us turn loss into inspiration and history into a living dialogue. Together, we can ensure that the voices and visions of the past continue to inspire and inform our future.

Thank you for your support.

With gratitude,

Joëlle Tomb

The Lost Paintings Project Team

https://www.thelostpaintings.com