Zawyeh Gallery is pleased to present an online virtual exhibition of selected works by the renowned Palestinian artist Nabil Anani.

Anani presents the Palestinian landscape without disruptions, a perfectly manicured, well-tended landscape. He paints the picturesque hills of Palestine without the ever-increasing Israeli settlements, bypass roads, roadblocks, walls, and watch towers normally visible on every corner. He creates the Palestine of his dreams, inspired by his memories as a child growing up on the hills of Halhoul, a town near Hebron.

Olive groves, cypress trees, and wheat fields dot the hills and horizon as if they become part of an embroidered dress. The canvases are divided with horizontal lines and spaces inspired by the ancient terraces separating the fields, conveying a panoramic perspective and a rural ambiance. The trees carry different characters in each work as if they are putting on different costumes for each show.

Anani has addressed the Palestinian landscape and rural life throughout his artistic journey, and his fascination with them inspired his artworks. In this series of works, one can rarely spot a human, for the primary focus remains on the aesthetic of nature, giving the audience a chance to ponder and appreciate the scenic terrain.

In this exhibition, Anani chases a utopia that resides in the imagination of all Palestinians, whether dispossessed from their lands forcefully, confined in small restricted areas, or prevented from accessing different parts of their homeland. Whether he attempts to capture a moment in the future or protest at the brutal Israeli destruction of the land and the livelihood of its people, Anani offers a vision of a better future, a dream of an ideal Palestine worthy of pursuing. 

Experimentation with different media and using intense, vibrant colors remain methods that distinguish Anani’s style. In this series, he uses mixed natural media, such as straw, spices, dry flowers, and plants experimenting with color and texture. The result is a distinct surface and memorable feelings that carry us to Palestine despite all the borders.