Cremisan Herbarium
Cremisan Valley
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Jerusalem
"Cremisan Herbarium" is a visual project developed during the Sounds of Places Artist Residency in Bethlehem, Palestine, in 2024. Collaborating with Nisreen Tahhan (Al Ma’mal), Sireen Alawi, Areej Ashhab (Al-Block), and Majdi Hadid (IPrint), the work presents images of plants collected from the Cremisan Valley, chosen for their connection to the land and themes of resilience. The book, merging the aesthetics of a scrapbook and a passport, was part of a biophotography workshop where participants documented their experiences through notes, images, and sounds.
The residency, "Sounds of Places," emphasizes sonic aesthetics and explores the relationship between land, memory, and identity. During the guided walks, participants interacted with the land through plant collection and cyanotype workshops, using UV light to photograph their findings. This process not only connected participants to the physical environment but also invited them to consider how landscapes shape cultural memory, resistance, and belonging.
The project also highlights the resilience of the land, exploring how materials such as lichen and plants contribute to the creation of images and memory. These elements, often found in harsh environments, symbolize survival and continuity, echoing the enduring struggle of the Palestinian landscape. The project seeks to let the land "speak" for itself, emphasizing its autonomy and its role in shaping cultural narratives.
