An exhibition of paintings by the Fine Arts Faculty Instructor, Muhammad Abu Setteh, was organized by the Public Relations Department in the gallery venue of An-Najah Main Library (Oct. 2-9, 2005). The exhibition was officially opened by Prof. Maher Natsheh, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Mohamed Atta, in the presence of a large crowd of interested professors and students. Professor Natshe expressed his admiration for the innovative works of Mr. Abu Setteh and encouraged the rest of the teachers in the Fine Arts faculty to do the same and exhibit their work at the campus in order to motivate students to improve their skills in painting and fine arts.
The artwork reflected a variety of motifs, subjects and cultural themes including the artist's personal experiences, the turbulent political crises of the 1980's and 1990's in Palestine, as well as the traditional life of Bedouins in the Gaza Strip. The exhibition also included images generated using computer software, reflecting the artist's experimentation and development using modern art forms.
Abu Setteh expressed his pleasure for organizing this exhibition at the University. He spoke about the impact of the gulf wars and the Palestinian struggle on his art and how this has also developed his feelings towards national determination.
Maha Hasan, a student from the University said this exhibition shows a national sense of pride. The depiction the artist’s own life experiences make a number of powerful statements. The artwork highlights the pain experienced by Palestinians in their everyday life, the decadence of Arab nations and the growing materialism which is undermining the cultural fabric of Palestinian society.
Abu Setteh was born in Khan Yunis in Gaza Strip in 1954 and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alexandria, Egypt. He specialized in drawing and worked as a teacher. He taught in the UNRWA schools for three years where he supervised the plans for the development of artistic skills for the preparatory classes. Following this he established the Ceramics Department in Hebron College. Abu Setteh has been teaching at the Fine Arts Faculty of An-Najah since 1986.