Watermelon

Watermelon by Khaled Hourani  In the seventies, when the Palestinian flag was banned and those who raised it were prosecuted, an Israeli officer put a list of limits and censors on a group of Palestinian artists about to form an artist’s association regarding the use of national symbols including the colors of the Palestinian flag. One of the artists asked about painting a rose in the flag colors; red, green, black and white. The officer clarified that it was forbidden, it is even forbidden to draw a watermelon. Years have passed and the prohibition has been lifted, but the occupation prevailed, and so, in 2007, the artist borrowed the watermelon from the story and produced the watermelon flag for the subjective Atlas of Palestine Project. He continued to produce the watermelon as a symbol of the continuing existence of Palestine. The watermelon artworks that were created in different mediums were part of many exhibitions around the world. Jacaranda Images carries a series consisting of 167 editions of the watermelon, 50x50cm, silkscreen prints specifically created for the gallery.