figs / anjeer / teen

figs / تِين / انجیر

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Artist statement

This Summer I became captivated by fig trees. Over the process of creating this print, my thoughts evolved from exploring figs and their forms, their relationships with various cultures, and then to our global yearning for peace and self-determination.

My curiosity began when I made fig leaf syrup for the first time - becoming overjoyed by the surprising and delicate notes of pandan or coconut - much unlike the fruit itself. I then drew fig trees from memory, but when I started drawing from observation, I was surprised how small the figs were in comparison to their wide leaves. I was tempted to distort the figs’ proportions, making them more prominent than the leaves, until I came across this Persian poem by Rumi which made me honour their original form:

Just as the fig is hidden within the tree,
So too are soul and knowledge concealed within you.
A photo of a fig tree and some branches. The leaves are a muted green colour with yellow veins.
An etching print being revealed after the printing process. There is a hand at the top pulling the paper off of the copper plate. The image printed is being revealed

Etching is a very time-intensive, manual process with many steps yet limited control. While working through this process - over many hours and weeks - my mind was often focused on the devastating genocide of Palestinans. I then found that figs are also a significant symbol in Palestinian culture and a staple in their diet - fresh figs being a symbol of abundance, and dried figs showing the resourcefulness of Palestinian traditions through preservation. With a traditional saying being - ‘if we have qutteen (dried figs), we are safe from hunger.’ (The Palestinian Museum).

Therefore, “figs / anjeer / teen” is dedicated first to my partner’s Baba who loves figs so much and to those who yearn for peace and fight for self-determination.

Prints for Palestine

How it works:

  1. Send me an email  (claudia.printsthings@gmail.com) with the print that you want and tell me where you’re located. I will calculate your shipping cost
  2. Donate the cost of the print to UNRWA or the Sameer Project
  3. Forward me your confirmation email for the donation
  4. Send me the shipping cost
  5. Your print will arrive
An etching print of a fig tree using black ink. It is printed on a speckled washi paper. The image is of one branch of a fig tree with large leaves. There are small figs shown but also concealed throughout the branches. There are 3 prominent figs, and 4 that are more hidden as they are obstructed by the branches and leaves.

Black ink on gampi smooth Japanese washi paper
‍
Printed area: 6 x 5 inches
Paper: 12 x 10 inches

1 of 14 - Sold
2 of 14 - Sold

An etching print of a fig tree using maroon ink. It is printed on a speckled washi paper which gives the print an organic feel. The image is of one branch of a fig tree with large leaves. There are small figs shown and concealed throughout the branches. The figs are highlighted as they are filled in with a maroon colour. This is done through a method called chine-colle, where cut out pieces of paper are layered onto the plate before printing. There are 3 prominent figs, and 4 that are more hidden as they are obstructed by the branches and leaves - however, the chine-colle shows these more.

Maroon ink, chine-collé figs on gampi smooth Japanese washi paper

Printed area: 6 x 5 inches
Paper: 12 x 10 inches

3 of 14 - Sold
4 of 14 - Sold
5 of 14 - Sold
6 of 14 - Sold
7 of 14 - Sold
8 of 14 - Sold

9 of 14 - Sold
10 of 14 - Sold
11 of 14
12 of 14
13 of 14

£250

A fig etching in maroon ink. It is printed on a white washi paper. The image is of one branch of a fig tree with large leaves, and small figs being shown throughout the branches. There are 3 more prominent figs, and 4 more hidden ones. The figs are highlighted because circles of maroon have been cut out but placed behind the print. There is then another piece of washi paper that is backing the print, enabling the colour of the purple circles to come through.

Maroon ink, chin collé on white washi paper

Printed area: 6 x 5 inches
Paper: 12 x 10 inches

14 of 14 - Sold

A close up photograph of an etching print. The etching is of a fig branch in black ink with wide leaves at the top and smaller leaves towards the bottom. There are 7 figs shown - some of which are slightly concealed behind a branch. The etching is made up of small thin lines and no shading. The line weight varies as there are thicker lines around the leaves and figs but thinner lines for the contours of the figs and the leaves veins. There is a delicacy to the piece. The paper is a Japanese washi paper with speckles. It gives the work an organic feel
A close up photograph of an etching print. The etching is of a fig branch in maroon ink with wide leaves at the top and smaller leaves towards the bottom. There are 5 figs shown on this close up - two of which is slightly concealed behind a branch. The figs have been made more prominent through collaging maroon paper onto the paper during the printing process. The etching is made up of small thin lines and no shading. The line weight varies as there are thicker lines around the leaves and figs but thinner lines for the contours of the figs and the leaves veins. There is a delicacy to the piece. The paper is a Japanese washi paper with speckles. It gives the work an organic feel
A close up photograph of an etching print. The etching is of a fig branch in maroon ink with wide leaves at the top and smaller leaves towards the bottom. There are 7 figs shown, which are being highlighted by circles of maroon. The maroon paper has been placed under the print so they are more translucent. This allows for the ink to be contrasted.