Artistry on Cactus Pads: Portraits of Hope by Palestinian Artist Ahmed Yaseen

The sabra, a fruit-bearing cactus, holds deep symbolism in the hearts of both Israelis and Palestinians. Growing wild across the region, the sabra cactus is seen as a representation of resilience, with its ability to thrive in diverse weather conditions. Often rugged on the outside but sweet and tender within, it has become a symbol of strength and tenacity on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Around a year ago, Palestinian artist Ahmed Yaseen, a member of the art faculty at An-Najah National University in the city of Nablus, embarked on a unique artistic endeavor. He decided to utilize the spiny pads of the cactus plant as canvases for his politically charged images. In an environment where art supplies and art education resources are scarce, Yaseen’s resourcefulness itself is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the local community he seeks to represent through his art.

With white and green acrylic paint, Yaseen meticulously creates portraits on the textured cactus pads. His subjects range from a pair of newborn babies nursing, where the mother’s bent arm forms the shape of a keyhole, to an elderly woman in a Keffiyah with closed eyes, clutching a skeleton key. The recurring key motif, according to Yaseen, symbolizes hope and is often associated with the right of return, a political principle advocating for the return of all Palestinian refugees to their pre-Nakba homes.

In one of his works, Yaseen embedded a stone into the cactus pad and painted a hand grasping it. It’s perhaps the most overt reference to violence among his cactus paintings, yet he refrains from depicting knives or other weapons commonly associated with the ongoing conflict. Yaseen’s intention is clear: his art aims to preach peace. He states, “I do not paint martyrs, nor do I depict scenes from the current conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. I draw elements that provide a glimmer of hope and not just despair.”

Yaseen acknowledges the pervasive fear that envelops both Palestinians and Israelis today. However, he sees his role as an artist to offer a bird’s-eye view, focusing on elements that transcend the despair and promote hope. Against the backdrop of the dry, hilly landscape surrounding him, Yaseen’s cactus art captures a sense of longing and aspiration, making a powerful statement that transcends the political divide in the region.