What is Tatreez and what is its symbolism?
Tatreez, the traditional Palestinian embroidery, has long served as a visual representation of Palestinian life and culture. This intricate craft is not only a symbol of artistic expression but also an essential component of Palestinian identity, deeply embedded in our culture.
My mother has always had traditional clothes adorned with Tatreez which were passed down from her mother. I have always loved wearing my traditional clothes, especially since they were passed down from my grandmother and were a part of my family history. I used to wear them a lot when I was younger but was curious about the art of tatreez. It seemed to be such a big part of our history but not many young people like me understood much about it. I have known that tatreez is a part of Palestinian heritage and has always been intertwined with our culture and heritage but I never knew the history behind it, the importance of it, what it signifies, and how it represents the Palestinian people and their lifestyles.
It is such an important part of Palestinian heritage and I want to be a part of bringing the history and art of Palestinian Tatreez and passing on the knowledge to my community to anyone who is unaware and wants to learn more about the art of Palestinian Tatreez and the history of Palestinian traditions.
DISCOVERING THE HISTORY OF PALESTINE THROUGH ART: TATREEZ
Tatreez Piece #1
This piece was my first Palestinian embroidery piece, created for a school project. It was centered around educating audiences about Palestinian embroidery. I had decided to center the piece around the colors red and black. theses colors are very prominent within Palestinian culture. They are the colors most commonly used in Palestinian embroidery and are recognizable to audiences. I wanted to create a piece that would be recognizable but also educate audiences on the importance of embroidery. I had also chosen these specific motifs to serve as a basic representation of Palestine as well as its rich history. For example, the border motif, the Star of Bethlehem, holds a significant place in Palestinian history as the star that shone when Jesus was born. I had chosen this motif to represent one example of the rich history of Palestine, as well as to highlight the religious significance that Palestine and our motifs hold. Not only for Palestinian muslims but Christians alike, which makes Palestine a place of great religious importance.
The interior of the piece is decorated with motifs depicting Cyprus trees, these trees represent everlasting life. It was also chosen to represent Palestinian nature and landscapes that are being eroded and destroyed. Within various cities in Palestine, different styles of Tatreez and motifs have been adapted. The design of the Cyprus tree that I had chosen was from Gaza, as I wanted to represent my home city and my family’s ties to the land. Finally, within the center of the piece is a motif from Gaza, which represents the moon. I wanted to include within the center a motif representative of myself and my heritage; thus, I included a motif from Gaza, where my family is from. Moreover, the moon serves as a symbol for Islam, the primary religion in Palestine, as well as hope, clarity, and peace. I had chosen each motif carefully to tell a story as well as to demonstrate its role in representing Palestinian experiences, environments, and history.
Tatreez Piece #2
Tatreez is more than a decorative design, but instead an alternative method of expressing our culture. Emphasizing how, within diasporic communities, there is a wide array of cultural communication, where Tatreez can be utilized as a method of visually communicating and representing Palestinian culture.
In this context, the nature throughout Palestine holds a great significance, and is woven within Palestinian embroidery not only as an appreciation for the lush flora but also as an act of resistance, to emphasize Palestinians' claim to their land. Therefore, I sought to represent Lillies. Lilies such as the madonna lily are native to parts of Palestine. This motif originated from Ramallah, Palestine.
My production of this piece represents how the modern world is allowing aspects of culture to be more accessible. Despite the traditional process, where motifs would be copied from books or past works. I had sourced this motif from an online website that compiles traditional Palestinian motifs. Therefore represents how individuals within the diaspora are adapting aspects of Palestinian culture to be more accessible to Palestinians throughout the diaspora and around the world.
Zanbaq/Lily Motif originating from Ramallah, Palestine