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Running for four months until March 13, 2026, the exhibition unfolds as an artistic and cultural journey celebrating the legacy of the Palestinian poet.
Through six sections inspired by the faces of a dice, it traces Mahmoud Darwish’s life and creative milestones, from his early beginnings in Al-Birwa to his enduring presence in Arab and global memory, revealing the richness of his poetic and human experience and chronicling the creative stages that shaped his remarkable path.
Her Highness was received by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture; His Excellency Mohammad Assad, Consul General of the State of Palestine in Dubai; His Excellency Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank; Sheikh Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah; Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation; His Excellency Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, and Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW.
The opening was also attended by His Excellency Alia Bu Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; His Excellency Khalid Jasim Saif Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Amer Shomali, Director General of the Palestinian Museum; Laila Abbas, Director of Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre in Ramallah, Palestine; Saed Abdulhadi, board member of the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation, and international artist Marcel Khalife, alongside cultural and media figures.
Commenting on the launch of the exhibition, Marwa Al Aqroubi said: “The Dice Player: Mahmoud Darwish reflects HoW’s unwavering commitment to preserving poetry as a vital intellectual and cultural force. Darwish was a rare poet who transformed both personal and national struggle into a mirror of existence. The exhibition does more than recount his life, it stirs the conscience of a nation through the story of a man who crafted hope from pain and a homeland from exile. His voice endures as a timeless beacon of freedom and dignity for generations.
Amer Shomali said: “I once sat two metres from Darwish, it felt like seeing and hearing him for the first time. This exhibition rekindled that feeling, drawing me closer not only to him but to a poetic world that transcends time and place. Each piece offers a glimpse into Darwish as both a man and a poet. I extend my gratitude to Sheikha Bodour, House of Wisdom, and everyone involved for creating a space that brings Darwish back to us, not as a memory, but as a living presence.”
During the opening ceremony, artist and musician Marcel Khalife delivered a moving live performance featuring some of his most celebrated compositions inspired by Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry, including “Rita and the Rifle,” “To My Mother,” and “In the Mind, a Song.” His renditions infused the verses with renewed emotional depth. Khalife also reflected on his collaboration with Darwish, recalling how the poet had personally asked him to compose “The Pigeons Fly.” He completed the piece after Darwish’s passing and performed it at his memorial as a heartfelt tribute.
The exhibition offers an interactive artistic and cultural journey, using modern audiovisual technology to immerse visitors in Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry and prose. Rather than a biography, it traces the evolution of his work through words, images, and music, reflecting his vision of life and poetry.
Visitors begin with an excerpt from The Dice Player, one of Darwish’s final poems and the exhibition’s symbolic entrance, chosen for its reflection of his poetic maturity and deep contemplation of life and existence. From there, the exhibition unfolds across six themed sections: The Son explores his childhood in Al-Birwa; The Poet highlights his early literary beginnings; The Exiled follows his displacement and travels; The Lover examines the role of love in his work; The Activist reflects his national commitment and the transformation of language into struggle; and The Absent Presence commemorates his enduring human and artistic legacy.
The first section, The Son, delves into Darwish’s roots in Al-Birwa, Acre district, where he grew up among olive groves that later inspired his poetry. Through photographs, documents, and artefacts, it reveals how Al-Birwa became a symbol of collective loss and Palestinian memory, while highlighting his early influences, particularly his parents. Rare manuscripts, childhood images, and excerpts from poems such as “And He Forbade Me from Traveling” are on display.
The second section, The Poet, traces the emergence of Darwish’s voice, focusing on the philosophies and books that shaped his awareness during his formative years in Haifa. It features his first poem, educational materials, schoolbooks, magazines, and manuscripts showcasing his distinctive Arabic handwriting. The section also presents excerpts from his early readings, rare editions of his first poetry collections such as Olive Leaves and The End of the Night, alongside his complete works and translations, offering a full view of his literary beginnings.
The third section, The Exiled, explores exile not merely as geographical displacement but as a lived experience within the homeland. It follows Darwish’s departure from Haifa in 1970 and his journey through Moscow, Cairo, Beirut, Tunis, Paris, Amman, and Ramallah, featuring archival materials, interrogation transcripts, prison letters, and travel documents.
The fourth section, The Lover, highlights how love became a poetic force alongside exile. It focuses on three pivotal women; Tamar Ben-Ami (Rita), Rana Kabbani, and Hayat Al-Heeni, whose presence transcended personal emotion to embody homeland and memory. The section displays rare letters, photographs, handwritten poems such as A Lover from Palestine and Poems of an Old Love, alongside artworks from Mona Saudi’s Tribute to Darwish series.
The fifth section, The Activist, highlights Darwish’s role in cultural resistance. It displays personal items such as a replica of his ID card and his poem Identity Card, a video excerpt from the documentary Write Down, I Am an Arab in his voice, and a televised interview reflecting on Those Who Pass Between Fleeting Words. The section also features critical and documentary references, including his elegy for Ghassan Kanafani, Ah… Who Mourns a Volcano?!, and highlights his connections with prominent Palestinian figures like Edward Said and Naji Al-Ali. Footage from a 1996 poetry evening at Sharjah Cultural Palace during UAE National Day, alongside photographs and documents from his UAE visits, is also included.
The exhibition culminates with the sixth section, The Absent Presence, which reflects his final years and his unwavering dedication to writing despite illness, affirming his enduring presence through words. The section features a video of him reciting Mural and a rare text in which he imaginatively contemplates his own funeral with irony and calm. Photographs capture his 2008 funeral in Ramallah, attended by thousands, while artworks such as the Mu‘allaqat Darwish, inspired by his poems, ensure that his voice continues to resonate in both art and memory, a tribute to a poet who departed in body yet remains immortal in legacy.
Throughout the exhibition, HoW will host a vibrant programme of cultural events featuring artists, writers, and critics who knew Darwish. This includes documentary screenings, poetry evenings, and sessions as part of the Wisdom Talks series, in collaboration with the Emirates Poets. The events continue until the exhibition’s conclusion on 13 March, marking Darwish’s birthday.
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