Samah Shihadi Palestinian, b. 1987
Abandoned house, 2024
Charcoal on paper
21 x 29.7 cm
8 1/4 x 11 3/4 in
8 1/4 x 11 3/4 in
Copyright The Artist
$ 3,500.00
Literature
Homesickness, or perhaps more accurately a yearning for a lost home, is a significant theme in the burgeoning oeuvre of Samah Shihadi. She uses graphite and charcoal to depict subjects including vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Motifs such as thyme and fig leaves are intentionally chosen, as they are common products in Palestine. At first glance, the works appear to be exquisite botanical renderings, but closer inspection evokes a rising sense of nostalgia, intensified by Shihadi’s sombre use of colour, reminiscent of old black-and-white photographs.
With photographic precision, Shihadi elevates the act of cooking and eating together to ritual heights. The dinner table serves as an anchor for families as they reminisce, using food, fragrances, and tastes to keep their history alive. Away from the kitchen, Shihadi also draws narratives of the present and past.
Her landscapes pay homage to the birthplaces of generations ago. The artist took photographs of what she encountered while travelling through deserted regions, transforming these images into monumental drawings.