Ma'alesh

Tiraz Centre in Amman presents "Ma'alesh", an exhibition of embroidered press jackets, from 25 August to 1 December 2026. The work is by Mutarizat Al Salam, a Palestinian embroidery collective working from Gaza Refugee Camp in Jerash, together with the Belfast tailor-artist Lou McGowan. Made from linen, cotton and sheep's wool, the series honours more than 200 journalists who have been killed in Gaza.

The jackets take the shape of the protective vests worn by reporters in the field. They are quilted and padded, cut in dark navy and blue cloth, and fastened with press studs and side straps. They hang from fine wires at different heights. Several carry a small panel of cross-stitch on the chest: a white dove, red star flowers, tall leaf forms or a dense band of blossom.

Behind the jackets runs a long printed list of the journalists who were killed. It is set out name by name in Arabic and Latin script, so that each of them is remembered individually. The venue presents the jackets as acts of testimony and remembrance, honouring people who document events with courage in dark times.

Eleven makers took part: ten embroiderers from the collective and one tailor. McGowan, who is Irish, also works as a community worker and researcher. The members of Mutarizat Al Salam are not named individually. The show sits within a house devoted to Arab dress: Tiraz holds the Widad Kawar Collection of more than 2,000 costumes and weavings. It has shown Gaza's textile history before, in "Gaza Calling" in 2023, and has lent pieces from its collection to venues in Europe and Asia. Tiraz opens on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, with other days by appointment.