"A small watermelon grows on a vine at my grandmother’s house in Helhul, situated in the southern region of the occupied West Bank. The image was captured two days before the outbreak of the war. My grandmother had used the skin and seeds of a previous watermelon as compost on her land months earlier."
A printed version of this photograph can be purchased through the “I Wish to Photograph Beauty” project
As the Gaza catastrophe continues to unfold, we would like to draw the attention of our readers to these three initiatives that unite in their efforts to provide relief and support to the people of Gaza and the West Bank. They aim to raise funds through the sale of artwork and photographs, with the proceeds going towards organizations and causes that focus on healthcare, humanitarian assistance, and the future of Palestinian narratives.
I wish to photograph beauty
This initiative is organized by Gulf Photo Plus, a platform that has been selling artwork of photographers and visual storytellers from the Arabic-speaking world since 2013. The purpose of this print sale is to amplify Palestinian narratives and support the artists and image-makers documenting the ongoing atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank. The initiative closes on December 15th.
Majd Arandas, whose work is featured in the sale, sent the organizers a voice note on November 1st, 2023, just a few days before he was killed in an air strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Majd said: “I wish for a day when life and beauty return to Gaza, and for peace to spread throughout all of Palestinian land. I wish to photograph beautiful things . . . cities in the West Bank, cities in Occupied Palestine, and visit many cities across the world and capture beautiful things there—beauty that the citizens in Gaza are kept from witnessing because of the Israeli occupation, whether it's in their own homeland or elsewhere in the world!”
All profits from this sale will be transferred to the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), which will then distribute the funds to a group of Palestinian image-makers. The goal is to ensure the future of Palestinian narratives and provide support to the artists who are working under unimaginable conditions. To learn more about the initiative and purchase artwork, visit Gulf Photo Plus's website.
Right: Zayna and Jasmine Abu Dis by Alessandra Sanguinetti
Prints for Gaza by Perimetro and the Live in Slums
A unique chance to acquire photographs captured by highly acclaimed photographers. The Live in Slums and Perimetro have collaborated to create an online platform that sells prints to raise funds in support of healthcare facilities operated by Doctors Without Borders in Palestine. The prints will be available for purchase until December 21st.
This campaign aims to provide emergency medical assistance in the Gaza Strip, focusing on medical facilities that prioritize the treatment of civilian victims. The primary objective of the campaign is to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontières (Al-Awda Hospital), Map Medical Aid for Palestinians (Medical Aid for Palestinians), Beit Lahia Indonesian Hospital, and Al Shifa Hospital. Prints can be purchased online for 100 euros, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to support the identified health and humanitarian assistance network. To learn more about the platform and purchase a print visit Perimetro's website.
Right: Three Grace by Nasrah Omar
Prints for Gaza by New York photographers and artists
This initiative is organized by New York artists, with contributing artists from around the world. Its purpose is to collectively raise relief funds to help the children of Gaza and their families in response to the devastating war in Palestine.
By purchasing a print, individuals contribute directly to the relief efforts. All proceeds from the sale of prints go to The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), which has been able to provide resources to those in Gaza and the West Bank despite the blockade. The funds raised through this initiative will support PCRF in mobilizing resources and donations for when more direct aid is allowed in.
The cost of each print is $100, with $5 allocated towards shipping. Some special edition artworks are available in larger formats and priced between $150 and $200. For more information and to purchase an artwork visit the initiative's website.
