Literature

In his series entitled 'Borders Are Only in Our Minds’, Palestinian visual artist Hazem Harb revisits collective archives, reinterpreting images of pastoral landscapes in the Levant dating back to circa 1890. Through this body of work, Harb unpacks the essence of geographic borders, viewing them as social constructs enforced by hegemonic powersto assert control over land, resources, and communities. Harb's series interrogates the very nature of borders, particularly within the shared terrain between Lebanon and Palestine depicted in the photographs. He highlights the striking continuity in the plant life and topography across these regions, emphasising their similarity despite the arbitrary labels imposed upon them. Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts over the borders defining the Levant today, Harb's work prompts viewers to consider the limitations enforced by these artificial divisions, which originated from the human imagination.

By raising questions about what is lost in the shadow of these constructed borders, who wields the authority to impose them, and for what ulterior motives, Harb challenges societal perceptions and invites contemplation on the underlying agendas driving such territorial delineations.