BFA+MFA 2022

Razan Mustafa, “When the land was separated from its faithful lovers”, Riso Forms, 2022 One out of four men in Gaza face prison for more than ten years. Simply throwing a stone is a crime that is punishable under military law for up to 20 years in prison. The Palestinian women have become accustomed to these conditions and have had to adapt to find love. They started sending letters back and forth to prison, eventually becoming distantly engaged, in hopes of meeting their fiancés sooner than later. This act of endurance and embodiment of national and social loyalty became a new tradition that is explored in this project. In order to showcase the dreadful and long process of requirements Palestinians have to meet to send letters to prisoners, I constructed a set of forms to depict their struggles.

Razan Mustafa, Ramallah Writes Back, Book, 2022 Ramallah Writes Back highlights intangible Palestinian heritage. Sharing the history of our cuisine which holds the community and fosters relationships amongst Palestinians around the world. Additionally, it houses traditions and celebrations, including weddings, henna nights and Eid whilst presenting the shocking yet genuine reality behind Palestine’s beauty and uniqueness, which is often misunderstood. Hence, this book aspires to not only shed light upon Palestinians' resistance, resilience and power but offer a glimpse into our rich identity.

Razan Mustafa, Seventy-two hours, Ceramic bowl, 2022 Seventy-two hours, is a handmade ceramic bowl inspired by the aesthetics and visuals of the popular ceramic plates made in Al Khalil, Palestine. The concept of the bowl comes from an unfortunate event that took place in Palestine in 2014. Israel released bombs and strikes for fifty days straight during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid. During the fifty days, Israel stopped their strikes for 72 hours, and within that break people celebrated weddings and other celebrations, including Eid. This ceramic bowl is white and red on the outside, forming a typical and simplistic impression people have of Palestine. However, once you look inside the bowl, you will experience the real story, through the colors, patterns and poetry. Ultimately, it honors and reflects the Palestinian life, resilience, willpower, and the rich culture.

Razan Mustafa, Aعyadana, Packaging, 2022 Through package design, the aspiration of Aعyadana (our celebration) is to preserve our threatened traditions through tangible objects, in order to acknowledge, honor and evoke a sense of nostalgia. Additionally, Aعyadana explores the sharp contrast between old traditions, new notions and unexpected practices that are emerging due to the current unfortunate conditions in Palestine.

Razan Mustafa

In Diaspora

Graphic Design

Eleven out of 17 million Palestinians are refugees or in diaspora, outside of historic Palestine. Due to colonial settlers and ethnic cleansing, the Palestinian identity is slowly fading. Therefore, it is of urgency for the survival of our culture, that we maintain a sense of a shared common identity of belonging and home with my fellow Palestinians.

In Diaspora, brings design and activism together to address issues of cultural preservation and inclusion. The key elements captured, conveyed and explored within this research intend to preserve memories and narratives of Palestine's past and present. Each project archives and sheds light on both current and historical living conditions with the hope of sharing our rich cultural heritage.

“Ramallah Writes Back” is a book that highlights intangible Palestinian heritage. Housing traditions and celebrations, including weddings, henna nights, and Eid. As well as sharing the history of our cuisine and the role of meals in fostering relationships amongst our community.

The second project, “Aعyadna (our celebration)” is a celebratory kit that explores the sharp contrast between old traditions, new notions and unexpected practices that are emerging due to the current unfortunate conditions in Palestine. The third project, “72 hours”, is a ceramic bowl which represents the narrative of how people view Palestinians. It is white and plain on the outside, forming a typical and simplistic impression. However, once you look inside the bowl, you will experience the real story, through the colors, motifs and patterns. It reflects the Palestinian life, resilience, willpower and the rich culture.