Arab Salim

There is something about the villages of South Lebanon that makes you recognize them even before someone tells you their names.

The hills, the houses nestled close together, the olive trees, and the mosque standing among them. A landscape so familiar that sometimes all it takes is one look to feel like home.

Arab Salim is one of those places.

This print came to life with Amira, a longtime Maraseel client who invited me to see her village through her eyes.

Together, we took our time choosing just the right view. Nestled between two beautiful hills, Arab Salim unfolds like a little valley, with its red-roofed houses, its mosque, and olive trees scattered across the landscape.

We wanted to capture more than what the village looked like. We wanted to capture what it felt like to belong there.

When Amira saw the finished artwork, she called it breathtaking and told me we had captured her village perfectly.

Then she shared something that meant so much to me:

“The love, care, and passion you put into crafting these pictures shows in each and every one. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to see part of your creative process.”

And that's what I love most about creating these pieces. Every village has its own story, and sometimes the most beautiful way to tell it is through the eyes of someone who calls it home.

When we shared Arab Salim, someone commented:

«حبيبتي يا ضيعة»

Three little words that hold a lifetime of belonging.

Because our villages aren't just places we come from. They're places we carry within us.