01/31/2023
Lifta is a site without a parallel, a traditional Palestinian village. It has been virtually untouched since it’s inhabitants were systematically expelled by Israeli Occupation forces between 1947 and 1948.
After their expulsion, Jewish immigrants, moved into the empty homes. Following the Six-Day War in 1967, the Israeli government offered the Jewish residents of Lifta new homes in Jerusalem; they happily accepted, and blew up the roofs of Lifta’s houses before leaving to ensure no-one would return.
Today it is filled with overgrown trees and shrubs between winding paths on the hill tops, it serves as a memory of what once was— a flash back in time of Palestine pre-occupation.
Painting Lifta was challenging to say the least. But it was also extremely emotional and eye opening. The story of Lifta is an art form within itself that I simply recreated onto canvas.
While painting each brick, tree, hill and shrub, I couldn’t help but think of how horrific it must’ve been to be from Lifta. To leave one’s whole life behind so suddenly, and not be allowed to return. And then watching strangers move into your home with your memories, trees you’ve planted, flowers you grew—it’s heartbreaking and infuriating and it captures the Palestinian struggle as a whole.