Spanish comics expert Pedro Rojo Perez took the stage at the Algiers International Comics Festival (FIBDA) on Thursday, October 2, to present the exhibition « Comic Palestino », which he co-curated with renowned Palestinian artist Mohammad Sabaaneh. The project was launched by Rojo Perez’s foundation, Al Fanar, an organization dedicated to fostering cultural ties between the Arab world and Spain.

« The idea grew out of the foundation’s work translating Mohammad Sabaaneh’s book, » explained Rojo Perez. « From there, we felt the urge to take it further. » The exhibition aims to bring Palestinian comics and visual art to a broader audience, allowing people to « see and hear something beyond the colonization, invasion, and destruction endured by Palestinians », while also giving artists a platform to discuss art, drawing, and history.

Featuring works by ten artists, the exhibition reflects a rich diversity of artistic styles and perspectives. « There’s manga, European-style comics, color panels, black-and-white drawings. Some artists live in Palestine, others abroad, including Gaza, » Rojo Perez noted. This variety, he added, allows for a nuanced exploration of themes: « Colonization and injustice are present, but we also speak about life and humanity. »

Honored during the festival’s opening ceremony, Rojo Perez emphasized the importance of challenging the limited and often distorted portrayal of Palestinians in Western media, where they are frequently rendered invisible or defined solely by suffering. « This representation is itself a form of colonization, » he argued. « It’s crucial that people discover Palestinians as artists and creators. »

Shown for the first time outside Spain, « Comic Palestino » has toured several Spanish cities since 2025. To reach wider audiences, it is also accessible online through Al Fanar’s website. At FIBDA, only a selection of the works is on display, but the full exhibition will be available to the public at the Cervantes Institute in Algiers once the festival concludes.