We’re excited to introduce limited edition prints of the popular artwork called “Watermelon Flag” by Khaled Hourani. Notably, this artwork is special because it represents an important story about the use of Palestinian flag colors during a specific time in history.

Khaled Hourani’s “Watermelon Flag” is a creative take on the colors of the Palestinian flag. Besides, it highlights the time when the Israeli occupation had banned the use of these flag colors in paintings. Back in 1967, after the West Bank and Gaza were occupied by Israel, displaying the Palestinian flag and its colors in any form, whether in publications, advertisements, or even old photographs, could lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment. The choice of watermelon, with its red, green, black, and white hues, serves as a symbolic representation of the Palestinian flag. Additionally, this artwork beautifully narrates the story of that historical period when the flag’s colors held significant meaning and importance.

Khaled Hourani along with Mansour and Anani, he co-founded the International Art Academy of Palestine. Hourani painted a large-scale version of the watermelon for an exhibition in Toulouse, France, and variations appeared at Darat Al Funun in Amman, Jordan, and the Center of Contemporary Art, Glasgow. In recent months, he claims, attacks on Gaza have conjured spirits of past generations through revivals of their artworks. “Art played a significant role in this conflict through songs, logos, and visual representations,” Hourani explained. “Furthermore, art was brought back from the past, from old media. Importantly, it wasn’t just embraced by the people in Palestine; it resonated with people around the world. Consequently, this was evident in the extensive and unparalleled solidarity efforts in support of Palestine and its rightful cause.”

Mansour began to explain the conceptualization of the watermelon. “The officer raised his voice and said, ‘Even if you do a watermelon, it will be confiscated,’” Mansour said. “Therefore, the idea of the watermelon came actually from the officer, not from us.”

For example, the watermelon by Khaled Hourani