Literature

Tagreed Darghouth's evocative canvases feature the pine tree rendered as a self-portrait, symbolising both personal and collective identity. In Lebanon, the pine tree holds a vital place in the country’s visual and cultural identity, much like the cedar, with pines scattered across the mountainous landscape. During the recent financial collapse, however, the price of pine seeds soared, surpassing even the value of gold. This economic shift led to the pine tree’s disappearance from kitchens, creating a surreal contrast that mirrors Darghouth’s perception of Lebanon.

The pine tree, however, carries a more complex symbolism beyond Lebanon. In Palestine, it has come to represent something altogether different, as the pine has increasingly supplanted the region’s ubiquitous olive trees in recent years. Darghouth’s work, as such, becomes a meditation on the transformation of natural and cultural symbols, connecting personal, national, and political narratives.