An Olive Tree by Bashar Alhroub
Bashar Alhroub (b. Jerusalem, 1978) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice reflects on place, identity, and belonging within the context of Palestine’s political and emotional landscape. Deeply rooted in cultural memory, Alhroub often returns to the olive tree as a central symbol in his work—an emblem of Palestinian resilience, history, and connection to the land. In this piece, the tree is rendered in black against stark white surroundings, creating a visual contrast. This depiction evokes a landscape under pressure—where what was once ordinary becomes marked, threatened, and sacred. The black olive tree, isolated and monumental, speaks both to collective heritage and the lived reality of occupation, displacement, and endurance in Palestine.
