Layan Wadi

علَى هَذِهِ الأَرْض - On This Land: Publication

My thesis project is an exploration of Palestinian identity. Through a series of studies conducted throughout the year, it explores the condition of Palestinian existence and culture - addressing the questions: is it possible for Palestinian identity to exist beyond the context of apartheid and occupation?Through my studies i found that Palestinians as a people have come to be almost exclusively defined by a state of struggle and resistance. Palestinian identity and culture are viewed as a symptom of apartheid, as opposed to an identity that extends far beyond the occupation. Comprised of two components, the book and the wall piece, the projects intention is not to provide an educational or informational resource on Palestinian culture. Instead, it aims to challenge existing perceptions, spark dialogue, and encourage self-reflection through two primary themes: simplicity and humanisation.Simplicity - The piece employs hyper-minimalist principles as a means of challenging the notion that Palestinian existence is intrinsically chaotic, complicated, and/ or hostile. It constructs an environment in which Palestinian culture is simple and approachable. Minimalist design principles embedded into the design of the publication simultaneously work to provide readers opportunity for conscious and careful consumption of the project, as well as inviting continuous reflection on their existing conceptions of Palestinian identity and culture.Humanisation - The concept and execution of the work was heavily informed by studies into the psychology of (de)humanisation. It explores the questions of what triggers our tendencies as humans to marginalise certain communities as distant 'others', over whom we have no moral responsibility or desire to understand, taking these elements and looking at ways that they can be translated into design. These include:Ease of understanding - Small and digestible written contentAccessibility and Familiarity - English translations for Arabic poetry and notes.Intimacy - The Interactive nature of the book, coupled with the inclusion of handwritten typography.Proximity - Physical design that is held and interacted with in order to be used.Modernity - Contemporary Minimalism

“علَى هَذِهِ الأَرْض مَا يَسْتَحِقُّ الحَياةْ - محمود درويشOn this land is that which makes life worth living - Mahmoud Darwish ”