Location: Nablus, West Bank
I am trying to change the look of the Palestinian human heritage as a hindrance to progress and raise the standard of living and work on integration with the needs of the present to reduce the gap between past and present.” --Asiha Dweikat
Aisha Dweikat uses traditional Palestinian crafts and design, embroidery and silver work, but puts her own contemporary twist on them to create something unique and beautiful. She uses geometric motifs such as stars that exist in her Palestinian culture. In university she studied interior design, but before her recent jewelry and design venture, Aisha participated in workshops where she observed women developing traditional Palestinian handicrafts. Throughout her education and work experience, Aisha has been committed to the “empowerment of women.” She often shares what she knows about jewelry making and design with others to encourage small business enterprise and development in her local community.
Aisha creates her designs on paper; all of her pieces are handmade.She also uses events significant to her Palestinian identity such as the numbers on the necklace pictured above; 194 and 181 refer to the UN resolutions 194 and 181. These resolutions created after 1948 include articles about the protection and free access to the Holy Places, the demilitarization and UN control over Jerusalem, the free access to Jerusalem, and the right of return for refugees.