The Land and I by Nabil Anani

This limited edition print—part of Nabil Anani’s The Land and I series— serves as a meditation and reimagination of Palestine as a living being, something that breathes and moves reflecting a strong bond between the geography, and the people. Anani erases the borders between the people and the landscape they live in making them one unit with shared history, present, and future. For him, the land is a witness to the struggle of Palestinians for freedom therefore he weaves Palestinians into the landscape.

His paintings of olive groves, trees, and rural landscapes show an organic relationship between Palestinians and nature, one that has been disrupted by occupation. This spiritual connection can be considered a form of resistance and resilience given the ongoing destruction of Palestinian homes, villages, and natural terrain. For Anani, the Palestinian land is not just a background but is an active participant in the narration of the story of Palestine that concludes emancipation.