Resistance is an Amulet, 2025.
Silver pendant, Tin pendant, Silver pin, 6 amber stones, reclaimed fabric. 11 cm.
Text
This Hijab/Amulet carries the power of collective efforts for liberation between Arab and Nordic experiences.
And reimagines ancestral healing practices in a contemporary context.
It combines materials used in traditional Arab and Nordic spiritual medicine: amber stones, a tin pendant shaped like the Sámi Magic Drum-once used by Sámi shamans to enter trance states or to answer questions about the future-and a silver pendant, or Maskeh (مسكة), inscribed with the phrase “Resistance is an Amulet” in a specially designed Arabic font.
This amulet is inspired by my experience as a Palestinian living between Jordan and Sweden, where I have come to see resistance as an amulet. I realized that resistance is therapeutic, drawing on moments of collective action against colonial violence with people from the East and the West.
This amulet celebrates indigenous healing practices and reawakens them in a contemporary world haunted by evil spirits embodied in colonial systems that cause our global suffering.
My vision for the silver pendant was brought to life by Gothenburg-based jewellery artist Lucky Huang.
The tin pendant is made by SWÅ & Jokkmokks Tenn – LE.
This amulet mimics an ancient Palestinian amulet found in the Dr. Tawfiq Kanaan collection of amulets at Birzeit University, Palestine.
Text
This Hijab/Amulet carries the power of collective efforts for liberation between Arab and Nordic experiences.
And reimagines ancestral healing practices in a contemporary context.
It combines materials used in traditional Arab and Nordic spiritual medicine: amber stones, a tin pendant shaped like the Sámi Magic Drum-once used by Sámi shamans to enter trance states or to answer questions about the future-and a silver pendant, or Maskeh (مسكة), inscribed with the phrase “Resistance is an Amulet” in a specially designed Arabic font.
This amulet is inspired by my experience as a Palestinian living between Jordan and Sweden, where I have come to see resistance as an amulet. I realized that resistance is therapeutic, drawing on moments of collective action against colonial violence with people from the East and the West.
This amulet celebrates indigenous healing practices and reawakens them in a contemporary world haunted by evil spirits embodied in colonial systems that cause our global suffering.
My vision for the silver pendant was brought to life by Gothenburg-based jewellery artist Lucky Huang.
The tin pendant is made by SWÅ & Jokkmokks Tenn – LE.
This amulet mimics an ancient Palestinian amulet found in the Dr. Tawfiq Kanaan collection of amulets at Birzeit University, Palestine.
It combines materials used in traditional Arab and Nordic spiritual medicine: amber stones, a tin pendant shaped like the Sámi Magic Drum-once used by Sámi shamans to enter trance states or to answer questions about the future-and a silver pendant, or Maskeh (مسكة), inscribed with the phrase “Resistance is an Amulet” in a specially designed Arabic font.
This amulet is inspired by my experience as a Palestinian living between Jordan and Sweden, where I have come to see resistance as an amulet. I realized that resistance is therapeutic, drawing on moments of collective action against colonial violence with people from the East and the West.
This amulet celebrates indigenous healing practices and reawakens them in a contemporary world haunted by evil spirits embodied in colonial systems that cause our global suffering.
My vision for the silver pendant was brought to life by Gothenburg-based jewellery artist Lucky Huang.
The tin pendant is made by SWÅ & Jokkmokks Tenn – LE.
This amulet mimics an ancient Palestinian amulet found in the Dr. Tawfiq Kanaan collection of amulets at Birzeit University, Palestine.