Tayeh, Sara
An Eye that Witnessed the Catastrophe, October 2023
Acrylic on canvas
40" x 50"
Private Collection
An Eye that Witnessed the Catastrophe, October 2023
Acrylic on canvas
40" x 50"
Private Collection
This painting portrays a Palestinian girl who appears to be trapped behind bars — not just any prison, but the prison of occupation that has shadowed our lives for generations. The thick line falling from her eye resembles a prison bar, and the other lines, worn and faded in color, suggest the decay of a long-standing, ancient confinement.
Her expression is filled with sorrow, silently speaking of the pain and injustice we endure daily. Yet her eyes remain striking — vibrant, alive, and full of defiance. They refuse to be dimmed or hidden, radiating resistance and the quiet persistence of hope, as if to say: ‘I am still here.’
On her cheek, the map of Palestine is drawn — a visual declaration of identity and struggle. But this map is not whole; it is cracked, fractured, bleeding in red. The color reflects not only the blood and destruction etched into our land, but also the raw emotion and deep exhaustion of a homeland torn by war and division. Still, red is the color of life — and in this pain, Palestine continues to breathe.
In this artwork, the eye is not just an organ — it is a witness, a memory, and a vessel of pain and dignity. Every detail carries a message: despite the bars, the wounds, and the silence… something within us still resists.
Her expression is filled with sorrow, silently speaking of the pain and injustice we endure daily. Yet her eyes remain striking — vibrant, alive, and full of defiance. They refuse to be dimmed or hidden, radiating resistance and the quiet persistence of hope, as if to say: ‘I am still here.’
On her cheek, the map of Palestine is drawn — a visual declaration of identity and struggle. But this map is not whole; it is cracked, fractured, bleeding in red. The color reflects not only the blood and destruction etched into our land, but also the raw emotion and deep exhaustion of a homeland torn by war and division. Still, red is the color of life — and in this pain, Palestine continues to breathe.
In this artwork, the eye is not just an organ — it is a witness, a memory, and a vessel of pain and dignity. Every detail carries a message: despite the bars, the wounds, and the silence… something within us still resists.