‘Olive Branch Of Momenetos’
Awards From This Exhibition: Curator’s Choice by Huddersfield Gallery, 2026, & Combined Art Award by Huddersfield University, 2026
Layered experience - my raw experiences in Palestine led me to peel away at different layers. The elements of Palestine, which I feel are often overlooked, are what the installation aims to provide: a new lens to visualise Palestine, predominantly Jerusalem, on a more positive note, shedding light and showcasing it to appear as a natural setting. This project is a 360 experience, a place to feel transported into another realm. With this, a sensory experience: audio recordings of the streets of the Old City in Jerusalem, sand, and tiles arranged on the floor to give the full experience.
Colour association with Palestine - the warmth I experienced was welcoming and positive despite the current situation. The colour I associate Palestine with is yellow- this is the base colour to show how that is just a layer of Palestine, the layer of warmth one would feel in the old city. Yellow triggers small doses of serotonin; it is the colour I felt best to offset the rest of the work. Yellow is a fundamental colour in the colour wheel- it is important to me that Palestine also be reflected in the same manner, a fundamental experience. I painted different tones of yellow, both soft and rich, to connote nostalgia and a timeless energy. This links into the designs I have created, as they are what I create in relation to the differences in language culture, and are also reminiscent of the cracks in the pavements of the Old City streets in Jerusalem.
The processes I have used for this installation are: sculpting, oil pastels, image transfers, graphite drawings, biro drawings, and spray paint. The sculptural aspect is fed through the archway, and using the copper wires also contributes to the architectural feel. In terms of the woollen material, it is to give more of the raw element, and to give the feeling of continuity. The use of material is also symbolic towards the keffiyehs created in Hebron, made of 100% cotton and woven with the designs that symbolise the resistance. Each segment of this installation is carefully curated to depict and reminisce about the streets of Palestine.
This is why I chose to bring my moments in Palestine in this manner to the studio and as my theme for my project. With that lies the name of my installation, ‘Olive Branch Of Mementos’, which is representative of the olive trees, another visual emblem, as it is the fruit of Palestine. To provide an olive branch is to extend help; this exhibition extends an experience and understanding.
