BJ City Center – Al Balad

Not every love story begins in the same hometown. Sometimes, loving someone means learning to love the places that shaped them.

This Bint Jbeil print began with Rizan, who wanted to surprise her husband with something deeply personal.

He is from Bint Jbeil. She isn't. But she understood how much the city meant to him, especially after his family lost their home.

Rizan sent me photographs of his family's house, perched high on a hill overlooking the heart of Bint Jbeil. It was a grand, castle-like home, with a circular staircase standing in front. The house had never been fully finished or painted, and sadly, it was later destroyed.

She wanted us to preserve the details that made it unmistakably theirs: the staircase, the fig tree, the olive trees, and the view they once looked out upon.

We worked together to bring that memory into an artwork.

For the name Bint Jbeil, we chose a modern typeface and a playful shade of pink. Bint Jbeil is often celebrated for her strength and resilience. This time, I wanted to show another side of her.

Her femininity. Her charm. A little bit of sass.

Because Bint Jbeil isn't only a city of resistance. She's also a city of homes, gardens, winding staircases, and families who love her dearly.

When Rizan saw the finished artwork, she told me how much she loved it.

What began as a surprise for her husband became a way to preserve a family home that no longer stands.

Sometimes, loving someone means carrying their hometown in your heart, too.