{"product_id":"flag-by-denise-shaw-1","title":"\"Flag\" by Denise Shaw","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAcrylic on canvas\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e39\"  X 40\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The land is made of grapes not bullets.” Mamoud Darwash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs I write this, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, the total Palestinian \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003edeath toll since the start of the conflict in October 2023 has reached \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e73,000\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdditionally, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e172,779\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e people have been reported wounded.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe position that I have maintained in the Middle East for decades has not\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003echanged: I want to see a Two State Solution. I do not support Hamas or any other\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eterrorists in the world. However, as an artist and human rights activist, I recognize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe need for free expression under extreme oppression. Since the war between\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIsrael and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, people have shown support for\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePalestinians with images of watermelons. Watermelons are grown in Gaza and the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWest Bank, and like the Palestinian flag, they are red, white, black and green. The\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewatermelon has long been an emblem of Palestinian solidarity and resistance in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe occupied territories where displays of the Palestinian flag are often restricted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eor banned by Israel. It is symbolizing life under occupation. Palestinian artists face\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecensorship to this day. The image of the watermelon became a protest against\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoccupation and has been the physical representation of Palestinian nationalism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fischman Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53029787926839,"sku":null,"price":4700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/6234\/8087\/files\/20260807_145115_df49cb89-3cd4-411c-99ac-c60efa98793e.jpg?v=1790132044","url":"https:\/\/fischmangallery.org\/products\/flag-by-denise-shaw-1","provider":"Fischman Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}