Olive Oil Tears

This piece brings the quote bye the Palestinian author Mahmoud Darwish, “If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears” to life through a mix of illustration and Arabic lettering. The words flow seamlessly into the branches of an olive tree, like they’re part of its very being.

The lettering weaves naturally between the leaves and olives, almost like it’s growing from the tree itself. It adds a layer of depth to the illustration, capturing the weight and emotion of the quote. The whole composition feels like a visual sigh—a moment of reflection on the stories and histories tied to these olive trees, which are often overlooked. It’s a piece that invites you to feel the quiet sorrow in its lines and colors.