Watermelon Pavilion

The Watermelon Pavilion begins with a fruit that is universal, joyful, and instantly recognisable. But within the context of Palestine, the watermelon is far more than food; it is a symbol of identity, survival, and subtle rebellion. When the Palestinian flag was banned in public space, people used the colours of the watermelon as a coded form of resistance. A slice of fruit became a political statement.

This is the foundation of the pavilion’s idea: that even the simplest everyday object can carry an entire history when looked at closely. Aligned with the theme Food for Thought, the pavilion proposes that food is not only nourishment but also memory, culture, and protest. The work asks viewers to consider how meaning is embedded in what we consume visually, emotionally, and politically. The watermelon here becomes a trigger for deeper reflection: What stories hide behind the things we see everyday? What symbols have we overlooked? Which narratives are being silenced?

The pavilion’s form traces the Arabic letter “ف“, quietly referencing Falasteen while remaining open to interpretation. This subtle gesture transforms the structure into a spatial language—an alphabet of resistance. The stacked, delicately balanced watermelon-like forms further emphasize fragility, echoing the precarity of a people whose identities and histories are constantly threatened with erasure.

Rather than offering shelter, the installation offers awareness. It is a gentle but unignorable reminder in the landscape of a place where sweetness and struggle coexist. The pavilion invites visitors to pause, question, and rethink how symbols operate around us. In this work, food becomes metaphor, metaphor becomes thought, and thought becomes resistance. The pavilion becomes a space where a single fruit opens a conversation about identity, oppression, resilience, and the power of quiet protest.