On exhi­bi­ti­on this month at PILAR is the new works by Samah Hijawi!
Constellations is a series of dra­wings that are based on in ancient texts on agri­cul­tu­re, her­bal medi­ci­ne and astro­lo­gy that map out a cos­mo­lo­gy around an edi­ble plant. 

The exhi­bi­ti­on opens April 23 april until May 29. 

Constellations Series are dra­wings that map out the cos­mo­lo­gy around an edi­ble plant, and are based on research in ancient texts on agri­cul­tu­re, her­bal medi­ci­ne and astro­lo­gy. They play on the idea of an astro­lo­gi­cal chart, (of the pla­ce­ments of pla­nets in the sky at a cer­tain moment in time), usu­al­ly cast for events, cities, coun­tries, and of cour­se humans. The works con­ti­nue the tra­di­ti­on of book illu­stra­ti­ons from the midd­le ages in Arabic, Latin, Greek, and Persian, spe­ci­al­ly the dia­grams that visu­al­ly bring together con­nec­ti­ons bet­ween hea­ven and earth.

The dra­wings are made from life to cap­tu­re the ​‘spi­rit’ of the plant or the fruit, and are made clo­se to their the sea­son of har­vest. Sometimes the pla­nets are repre­sen­ted by their mytho­lo­gi­cal figu­res — ancient dei­ties who inspi­red strength, rebirth, reveren­ce, love, and fear. In the back­ground is the geo­grap­hi­cal regi­on rela­ted to the plant. The texts descri­be the plants’ life, the cos­mo­lo­gi­cal and mytho­lo­gi­cal sto­ry, some­ti­mes quo­ting ancient thin­kers, or more con­tem­po­ra­ry anec­do­tes around the plant. The texts are in Arabic, and some edi­ti­ons inclu­de notes in English.

Complete dra­wings for the plants; Pomegranate, Oregano, Rice, and Dates, with new dra­wings for Fig and Olives, among others to come.

Printed by Atelier KZG in Brussels. 
​Previously shown:
​‘Recipes for Broken Hearts’ in the 1st Biennial of Bukhara (2025), Curated by Diana Campbell, Uzbekistan
​‘Foragers’ at Pilar (2026), Curated by Gosie Vervelossem, Belgium
Upcoming:
​‘Arab Design Now’ (2026), Curated by Noura Al-Sayeh, Qatar