Inspired by the rallying call of the phrase from the river to the sea, I wanted to express that idea visually and began experimenting with blocky letterforms reminiscent of the protest signs used during the Civil Rights Movement in the US and the anti-apartheid demonstrations of the 1980s.

The phrase is not only evocative of a very specific place—the territory historically occupied by Palestine—but also of a time before the Nakba, when the Palestinian people weren’t subjected to an illegal occupation. After the 7/10 insurrection in 2023, the world has opened its eyes to the horrors Palestinians have endured since 1948. At the beginning of the escalation, I created a Ceasefire Now poster for a local demonstration in Strasbourg, but something clicked in my head when I began to reflect on this slogan that is now synonymous with the cause for Palestinian liberation.

The words river and sea are written relative to the geographical location of the river Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, while the sentence encloses the Palestinian historical territory and reveals it in negative space. The illustration was originally created in English, but after finding the correct translations of the phrase, I created different versions in Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic.

This project serves not only as a visual representation of a powerful slogan but also as a call to remember and honor the historical context and ongoing struggles of the Palestinian people. By translating the phrase into multiple languages, I aim to spread awareness and solidarity across different cultures and communities worldwide. The art is more than just a piece of visual expression; it is a testament to the resilience and enduring spirit of a people who continue to fight for their rights and freedom. Through this work, I hope to inspire others to join in the cause for justice and peace, and to keep the conversation alive, from the river to the sea.

High-resolution files are available on request by email at hello@vazo.li under a Creative Commons License.