Flowers in the Fire

Presenting an online screening and accompanying conversation between artists Razan AlSalah and Theo Panagopoulos, this programme is a quiet serenade, humming the story of Palestinian men, of their resilience, their love, and their quiet defiance. We are delighted to present Flowers in the Fire, devised by LUX Scotland Programme Fellow Huss Al-Chokhdar, online on 16 – 30 April.

Flowers in the Fire is a poetic tribute to Palestinian men, whose resilience, dignity, and quiet defiance bloom even amidst the flames of genocide*, occupation and exile. Flowers in the Fire weaves together a series of moving image pieces that explore the intertwined beauty of survival and resistance, highlighting the enduring spirit of those who continue to fight for memory, justice, and identity. Together, the films form a tapestry of loss and unyielding hope and act as a poetic tribute to Palestinian men whose struggle is not just against occupation but for a future where their stories, their identities, and their love can flourish in freedom.

The programme begins with the tender beauty of Hani Jawharieh​’s ​‘The Flowers of All Cities’, where Jerusalem’s life is caught between memory and occupation, before moving to the reclamation of stolen histories in Kamal AlJafari​’s ​‘An Unusual Summer’ and Razan AlSalah​’s ​‘A Stone’s Throw’, tracing the journey of exile and resistance. Rosalind Nashashibi​’s cinematic ode to the men who continue to endure, love, and fight, ​‘Dahiet Al Bareed’ lingers in a forgotten space, where survival is its own form of resistance. And finally, Theo Panagopoulos’ ​‘The Flowers Stand Here Silently, Witnessing’ delves into the role of image-making in connecting people to land.

To accompany the online screening, we are presenting a pre-recorded conversation between Razan AlSalah and Theo Panagopoulos, chaired by LUX Scotland programme Fellow Huss Al-Chokdhar. The conversation will deepen the programme’s themes and offer insight into each artists’ work and practice.

This programme is the culmination of Huss’ six-month role as Programme Fellow with LUX Scotland supported by Creative Scotland. Thank you to Myriam Mouflih and Saeed Taji Farouky for their generosity and contributions as mentors during Huss’ fellowship.

* In December 2024 an Amnesty International investigation concluded that ​“Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza” and demonstrated that ​“Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention”, a conclusion supported by Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, in March 2024, finding that ​“the overwhelming nature and scale of Israel’s assault on Gaza and the destructive conditions of life it has inflicted reveal an intent to physically destroy Palestinians as a group”.