Palestinian artist uses cacti to embody Palestinian suffering

Ahmed Mohamed Yassin, 21, a Palestinian university student uses a rather unusual tool to carve his paintings.

Yassin uses cacti or prickly pears to embody Palestinian suffering and aspirations.

Talking to Quds Press, Yassin said he began his artistic career at the age of 13 despite his family’s initial objection to him joining the School of Fine Arts at An-Najah University in Nablus; he managed to convince them of his talent.

“I was looking for something new to express my talent, then I came up with the idea of ​​drawing on cacti,” he explained.

“Every artist has a different way to express his talent, so I chose cacti to express what I feel”.

To Yassin, cacti have symbolic meanings because they signify patience and resilience. “They are available at no cost and have the ability to absorb and preserve colours,” he explained.

“Some local and international artists have admired my paintings, so next I am planning to draw on olive trees.”

The young artist has called on the Palestinian authorities and organisations to support his talent.