The video piece Soup Over Bethlehem (Mloukhieh) takes its name after a Palestinian local dish and addresses the meeting between the west and the Middle East. With a view of the occupied territories and the Israeli segregation wall, a group of young Palestinians, all educated in the West, are having dinner on a roof terrace in Bethlehem. As it is common in those circles the conversation takes place in a mixture of English and Arabic. The topics range from politics and occupation to pop cultural anecdotes. The mixture of political dialogues and the hot local dish, makes the experience both rational and sensual. Formally, the sensuality is accentuated by the colours. The video is kept in black and white with the one except for the food. The atmosphere around the table is one of strong gastronomic immersion. The work is thought as a visual and politically challenging manifestation of a young Palestine quite unlike the one appearing via the evening news.

• Review by Maureen Murphy