S3E6 of Tatreez Talk: Brushstrokes of Tatreez with Halima
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Years ago, I stumbled upon Halima’s work on Instagram (@PalestinianArtist) and immediately knew I wanted her art on my walls. Her ability to capture Palestinian stories through paint was mesmerizing.
So…I commissioned two beautiful pieces from her, and they have been a source of joy ever since. What makes them even more special is how she wove my personal story into every brushstroke. It wasn’t just a transaction—it felt like a collaboration, almost like I was a conspirator in the creation of something deeply meaningful.
In this episode, we dive into Halima’s journey as an artist, the stories behind her work, and how she uses embroidery, painting, and mixed media to preserve Palestinian heritage.
Episode Shownotes
HALIMA IS THE ARTIST AND DESIGNER BEHIND THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @PALESTINIANARTIST. Halima shares her journey into art, how she uses embroidery and other mediums to tell Palestinian stories, and the deep cultural significance of her work.
The conversation delves into the role of art in preserving Palestinian heritage, Halima’s experiences exhibiting her pieces in museums, and the tatreez workshops she’s been leading across Germany. She also reflects on the power of creative expression as a form of resistance and connection to identity.
Whether you're an artist, embroiderer, or simply passionate about Palestinian culture, this episode is filled with inspiration, heartfelt storytelling, and meaningful reflections on resilience. If you're in Germany, don’t miss the chance to join one of Halima’s workshops! She’s also open for commissions—follow her at @palestinianartist and explore her shop here.
You’ll hear about:
>> 1:00: Halima’s connection to Palestine
>> 2:32: Being a Palestinian in Germany
>> 4:25: Exposure to tatreez and incorporating into art
>> 10:30: Halima’s art journey
>> 13:04: Teaching tatreez
>> 19:04: Current projects and workshops
>> 23:55: Major life lessons from tatreez
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Transcript
WEBVTT
Lina: Hi stitchers! Welcome to Tatreez talk, where we share conversations about Palestinian embroidery. I'm Lina here with my co-host Amani, chatting with talented embroiderers and artists sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind their work.
Amanne: On today's episode. We are chatting with Halima, the artist and designer behind the Instagram account. Palestinian artist Halima. We are so excited to have you? Thank you so much for joining us here on Tatreez talk.
Halima: Hello! Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here.
Lina: Yes, and we'll talk about this in a bit. But I'm a big fan of Halima's work. I've commissioned a few pieces from her, and I've actually seen your pieces at the Palestine Museum in Connecticut in person as well. So those are really really beautiful and powerful to see in person. But before we get into all of the good stuff, Halima, would you mind sharing with our listeners a little bit about you and your family's connection to Palestine?
Halima: Well, yeah, I am half from Gaza. How? From Tulkarim?
Halima: But I was born here in Germany. So yeah, I was born in Germany, and then we
Halima: as a child, we moved to Reza, and I lived there for a few years.
Halima: and then we had to go back to Germany because of the life conditions. And
Halima: yeah, we also used to visit the west bank and Tolkarim. So I kind of had the chance. Thankfully to connect with yeah, both sides of my family, my father's side and my mother's side.
Halima: And yeah.
Amanne: And I'm curious. What age were you when you moved back to Gaza
Amanne: like? What ages were you living there?
Halima: It was like at the age of 3 or 4. And then I was like here in kindergarten, and there in kindergarten, and then, and also in primary school here and there. So I've had the to experience both, and.
Halima: Yeah. And then with.
Halima: I don't know we lived there 3 or 4 years, and then we moved back to Germany. But actually, our plan was to live
Halima: like the rest of our lives in in Palestine. But yeah, unfortunately, unfortunately, it wasn't yeah, possible, because of the life conditions, and because of the war in 2,008
Halima: that's also the time where we moved back to Germany. And yeah.
Lina: And what is it like being a Palestinian in Germany? I know that I've had friends who have been to some of the protests, and I mean it's not necessarily the most welcoming of Palestinian.
Halima: Yeah.
Lina: I guess in Germany.
Halima: Yeah, unfortunately. They always take as an excuse the history. But they always say we don't want to repeat what happened, but they actually repeat what happened. And it's even like worse than that. And
Halima: I would say, it's not really. You don't have really the freedom of speech anymore. And it's getting aggressive.
Halima: While you know, speaking up or being on demonstrations.
Halima: Yeah, it's not really peaceful. Yeah, as it should be. And that's actually pretty sad. Yeah.
Amanne: And were you able to grow up when, like being in, you're in Berlin right.
Halima: And now in Dortmund, yeah.
Amanne: Okay. I'm just kidding. I don't.
Halima: No, I gave an a workshop in Berlin. That's why many people think in Berlin. Yeah.
Amanne: But were you able to grow up like amongst the Palestinian diaspora community in Germany.
Halima: Yeah.
Halima: well, we don't have a lot of Palestinians here. I think the most of them in Germany I think there might be in Berlin.
Halima: and that's what I felt like. I saw a lot of Palestinians there, and it was amazing to connect with them, and also to be able to give a workshop there. And
Halima: yeah, but they're also here where I live. They're also Palestinians, but not that much, I think. Like
Halima: you are from the Us. Right? I think I feel like there is the most
Halima: like most Palestinians in the Us. I guess.
Amanne: Interesting.
Lina: Well, so maybe we jump into a little bit about Tatreez. Heidi would love to learn about how you got introduced to Tatreez. How did you start practicing and kind of what inspired you know you to implement Tatreez in your artwork.
Halima: Yeah. Well, I actually grew up with tat trees, always seeing it on my grandma, Halima Allerham
Halima: and
Halima: Oh, do you hear me.
Halima: okay, yeah. And I always saw it. Saw her wearing a top like full of tattoos. And
Halima: yeah, always saw it on her, but never really get to know a lot about it. And while growing growing up, I actually started doing art.
Halima: And then, I don't know exactly how it started, but
Halima: I saw like pictures from family members, and saw the Tatreez and the athwab and
Halima: I started also painting about it. I had, like a series from different cities in Palestine. I don't know if you saw it, but like from Gaza, from Nablus, like every city in Palestine, where I found the different the pattern from the city.
Halima: I did a painting and painted them like from each city, because before, I think, 1948,
Halima: from each city in Palestine. The Tatreez parents
Halima: were different, and it was important to me also to show that, and to show, like how it used to be, and how it is now.
Halima: So I actually started to do lots of paintings actually, and then
Halima: started also to learn it a year ago, I guess through my mom.
Halima: and yeah, it's not that easy. But I I'm still learning. But I'm getting better.
Halima: And yeah.
Lina: Amazing.
Halima: I'm kind of trying to mix it with my art. Not like to separate them, really.
Halima: but kind of, you know, to mix them together with my art. Yeah.
Lina: Yeah, no, that's beautiful, and I love. I love how you've reflected the Tatreez in your in your paintings was there a moment where you're like. Maybe I should try, Tatreez, or it just kind of it just kind of happened. Naturally.
Halima: I think it happened naturally and
Halima: I think I also did like a mixed design, Tatreez, Tolkarim and Reza.
Halima: and I thought like one day. I have to do this, too, because it's I just took the Tatreez patterns from these 2 cities, and I thought, like I have to mix them together. So I did like some sketches and such stuff. But I didn't really finish them. And
Halima: yeah, hopefully, I will one day do a tool by myself to mix both of them.
Halima: And yeah.
Amanne: You mentioned that you're you started learning about a year ago, like actually picking up a needle and thread stitching, you started learning from your mom. So what's
Amanne: yes been like stitching with your mom.
Halima: I think it's special, because I hear from
Halima: many people who like do Tatreez. They actually look up like a tutorial or anything on Youtube, which is actually also good, like but I think it's like more special to learn it from your mom or from your grandma
Halima: and also why we are doing Tatreez. She's like telling me stories from back then how they used to do it, and
Halima: like they used to wear it on a daily basis. And yeah, it's definitely special to learn from my mom. Yeah.
Amanne: What are some of the stories that your mom shares with you has shared? Well, I can't even speak
Amanne: has shared with you. During your 3 sessions.
Halima: I don't know. I think
Halima: like she's from Tulkarim, and she told me like the dresses. They were like different, or
Halima: she told me of the colors of the dresses and the meaning of them.
Halima: and like when and where they used to wear them. And yeah, like, for example.
Halima: there are specific colors on the dress that has
Halima: a specific meaning. If the person is married or not, or you know, if you wear gold or silver
Halima: which symbolizes rich or poor. I like. Also, I guess, in other cultures. And
Halima: yeah, she always used to tell me that my grandma until Kevin
Halima: wore wear it on a daily basis. And it was like the part of them.
Halima: And now it's like wearing them on occasions. And yeah, show that we are Palestinians.
Lina: And actually, you're you're making me think of like, I'm wondering if you, if this has changed kind of your relationship with Tatreez like, are you finding yourself wearing a swab more often to different events, like what is? What is the rest of kind of your relationship with Tatreez? Aside from practice, and then painting it as well. Do you find any anything happening with that.
Halima: I actually used to wear
Halima: lots of 12 before because I loved it. And I think that's also a reason why I started doing tatties because I always wore them. But I didn't really did like.
Lina: Yeah.
Halima: And it was important to me to learn it, and also for the future to give it to my children like from it, should be like, given from generation to generation, and not just weird them, but appreciate them, and to learn how to do Tatreez and maybe create something ourselves like they did back then, because back then it wasn't like
Halima: you know, they did it and sold it. But they also like or did it for themselves.
Halima: And yeah, it was important to me.
Lina: Yeah. And so maybe we like also talk a little bit about your art journey. How did you begin painting? You know, what did that look like? Where do you draw inspiration? What does your art process look like.
Halima: Well, it's like it varies. Sometimes I just start painting, and you know it's kind of like a therapy, and I start painting. And at the end it becomes something. But
Halima: yeah, sometimes I also do like sketches and think of like several things or
Halima: people, or like my homeland, Palestine, the beautiful things, but also like the occupation. And
Halima: yeah, try to represent our homeland, but also like what's happening there. And yeah, do many sketches, and
Halima: put it like on a canvas to express myself, and to also represent my people.
Amanne: Who my art
Amanne: do you feel like? Especially in the last year since the start of the latest genocide in Gaza, that you've turned to your art more. And I'm curious to also understand if your art has changed in the last year, because.
Halima: Yeah.
Amanne: Thing.
Halima: I would say it changed also, like the color palette changed.
Halima: which is said like I actually used to use eye-catching colors, vivid colors. And
Halima: then when it happened I I don't know. Like I felt very down very sad.
Halima: but at the same time I felt like I have to be strong for them, and the only thing I can do is like praying for them, doing art and sharing what's happening there. But yeah, my color palette changes and
Halima: into like more sad and dark colors. And yeah.
Halima: I would say, like I do.
Halima: I did like more digital art. If I use? I, I make like both traditional and digital art. But like.
Halima: yeah, I did like more digital art lately. Yeah.
Amanne: And I'm so I know you also mentioned the fact that you have been teaching the three's classes. How did that came come about?
Halima: It was from
Halima: like some students ask me if I would give a Tatreez workshop because I actually A while ago I graduated and
Halima: my topic for my thesis. I took Palestinian clothes.
Halima: And I named the book
Halima: empowerment women empowerment through traditional clothing, and of course, pick the topic. Palestinian clothes looked researched and a lot about about the history, and how
Halima: the clothes used to be back then, and how it is now, and the meaning behind it.
Halima: But also I
Halima: chose to represent the men clothes, even though they're not much known as women clothes, because I also thought, like I noticed that no one is really showing or talking so much about men clothes.
Halima: but I also like did that. And many people saw that on social media, and
Halima: then asked me to do a workshop for them. We had, like a Palestine camp. So that was like my 1st workshop. Where not only like, teach them how, teach them how to do but also like, talk about the history where it comes from. And yeah, the meaning behind it and everything because it's
Halima: part of it. And it's important to talk about that. Yeah.
Lina: You know it's.
Amanne: See.
Lina: Yeah. And you know it's interesting. I I also don't know much about men's clothing in.
Amanne: Yeah, say, yeah.
Halima: Yeah, no, it's like no one. I've never seen it. And I thought, like, I don't know who.
Halima: And maybe I'll talk to my dad about that. But like
Halima: it was like also for me, important to talk about that and to put it in my Tvs, because it's not like only Palestinian women clothing, I think.
Halima: Palestinian Palestinian clothing for women are like more. You have more to talk about because of the Tatreez patterns, and everything which is actually not on men's clothing.
Halima: Not as much as on men's coding. But yeah, I don't know.
Halima: It's actually also kind of important to talk about back loading. I think.
Lina: What can?
Halima: And also that they supported, and also that they supported the women. I saw a video also, like
Halima: my mom used to tell me like back then when the women at home did like Tatreez.
Halima: also the men after the work they used to help the women, and if she had like to take care of the children something like that. They helped them with the dress.
Halima: Yeah, they were also part of it.
Amanne: So what could you share with us about a little bit more about men's traditional Palestinian men's clothing that people might not have known before.
Halima: Like what they wear or like. I think it's what you actually see, like the jalabiya and
Halima: coffee most of the time. And there's like
Halima: like I forgot the names now, but like a jacket, and sometimes like the Surrowell, but which depends. But I think women also wear them.
Halima: And there were also like specific leather shoes. They wear
Halima: also like on specific occasions, like a wedding or something like that. And that was also important part of that.
Halima: And yes.
Lina: Did the men in your family wear some of these clothing? Or is this something kind of of the past, you know, because I don't know anyone in my family, for example, who has these more traditional outfits like my cousin, I think maybe wore it on his wedding, but he had gotten it. Custom made, and you know none of us really knew like you know, what the pieces were called, or when you wear them, or how you wear them.
Halima: Yeah.
Lina: Is this something that you were exposed to growing up.
Halima: Not really actually I haven't really found like pictures of something like that. So
Halima: okay, sorry I have to, because my cat is here.
Halima: I think you might hear it in the background. Can we pause for a moment where?
Halima: so I didn't really like noticed anything specific like from the men's clothing on the pictures I used to see
Halima: like from pictures back then. But
Halima: like, I said. I think I talked with my papa about that, and
Halima: Also, when we used to be in Palestine in 2022
Halima: we used to buy traps and everything, and also also men's clothing.
Halima: And it was also inspiring.
Halima: And I thought, like, I should
Halima: also include that in the book.
Halima: And yeah.
Lina: The the book, meaning, like your thesis or.
Halima: Yes, it's like it's the thesis, and it's also I don't know if you thought I have it here. This book.
Lina: Oh, okay.
Halima: Yeah. And that was another book like it was like 2 books, a thesis. And this one.
Lina: And is this book something that you published or.
Halima: No, I?
Halima: Oh, okay, I I want to do that. But still working on on that.
Lina: Yeah.
Halima: I thought, like, maybe still editing some stuff, because I'm sometimes paying attention. And you know, I wanted to be perfect. So I thought, maybe like on editing some stuff. And yeah.
Lina: No, that's amazing. That's amazing. Well, so what are you up to these days, Halima, what are you working on at Toriz arts? Palestine related.
Halima: Well, I am continuing to do to give workshops like the last one in Berlin, and I also had a workshop in Cologne.
Halima: and also having one in the coming week.
Halima: So I'm actually doing workshops. Everywhere I can. Because in Germany I've noticed it's not that much
Halima: like in the Us. I'm like, every time I see it like on the videos you share so pretty and
Halima: like, I feel like it's more vivid there. And here, it's actually starting. Now, yeah.
Halima: And yeah, also try to work on some artworks.
Halima: Like things that remind me of
Halima: Gaza like my childhood in Gaza, and try to
Halima: to create artworks from that, and see where it goes.
Lina: Yeah. And so you mentioned earlier that there's not too large of a Palestinian community who's mostly coming to your workshop. Is it Germans, or is it like Arabs and those different cities.
Halima: Yeah, I would even say, like, I just have like one or 2 Palestinians.
Halima: and the rest is actually like from everywhere, like there were Germans. Turkish people.
Halima: Moroccan.
Halima: Yeah, it will like different nationalities, I would say, but like less
Halima: one or 2 Palestinians. And yeah.
Halima: but I think it's also important to. It's to show that it's not only for Palestinians, but like for everyone.
Halima: And it's
Halima: I don't think like it's a bad thing if they're more like not Palestinians in there, because I tell them like more about the Tatreez and the history, because actually
Halima: they also are the ones who
Halima: don't really know about that, like some would relate it to other nationalities. These, when they see the clothes
Halima: and don't know the meaning about that. And after I've noticed, like after they learned about it, they were really like grateful about it, and they also really loved it, and thought like they would do it and continue, do it at home.
Halima: Yeah, yeah.
Halima: But it's like in the Us. Is it more of a Palestinian community, or also mixed.
Lina: I mean on my, yeah, I think it's mixed.
Halima: Okay.
Lina: I I think it depends, too. I've had some workshops that are only Palestinian, and then I've had some workshops where it's like.
Amanne: Yeah, that's true.
Lina: Palestinians, too. So it depends on the crowd and kind of the audience. But yeah, it's interesting to see the differences in how people practice like depending on their background. I find that Palestinians in my classes.
Lina: There's like a really special connection that happens for them when they learn Tatreez. It's kind of like they're, you know, able to connect to Philistine in a different way. And and then, especially when there are multiple Palestinians, a lot of them will start talking to each other about like, where is your family from?
Lina: Yeah, yeah.
Lina: You know who's who's who's your Tata? And who's so and so? And are we related half the time. We're all probably related.
Halima: Yes.
Amanne: I've literally had cousins find each other in my like.
Halima: Really.
Amanne: That we oh, wait! We are definitely related.
Amanne: Bring people together.
Amanne: It's very Palestinian.
Halima: But I think like it's really beautiful, not like it's
Halima: it very beautiful to get people together to get to know each other. And even though, even though, like it's mixed, I think maybe it's like more beautiful, because I've also noticed
Halima: I've had like one Turkish girl and she talked about
Halima: her, about the Turkish traditional clothing, and that there are like similar things, and that for example, like they also do like Tatreez, but like other patterns, and
Halima: she got used to it very fast. So she didn't have any problem because they also do it. And
Halima: clothing.
Halima: Yeah, there was also very special to learn about that. Yeah.
Lina: Yeah, I love that. I love it. Yeah, we're all actually so much more connected than we than we realize.
Halima: Yeah.
Lina: And is a really easy way to bring out those connections. I think non-Palestinian and Palestinian, you know alike. So
Lina: that's really cool. That's amazing. So if you had to name one or 2 things on in terms of what you've learned from Tatreez, are there any major life lessons that you've learned.
Halima: Maybe the 1st thing I would say, maybe patience, because, yeah, because
Halima: when you start learning Tatreez, patience is really important, and to not pay attention, to do, do it perfectly, but maybe to pay more attention to the process and to what I want to create at the end and to not just
Halima: value the the outcome, but also like value the process while doing that.
Halima: And also, I would say,
Halima: that we know that every stitch tells a story, and to
Halima: make, or to mix it with your own art, and to.
Halima: you know show it to other people and show
Halima: what's behind it and what it's what it means.
Halima: And I think in general, through Tatreez to
Halima: bring people together and to give it like to the the other generations. And yeah, and then, oh.
Halima: also allow mistakes.
Halima: This is.
Lina: Yeah. Well, I wanted to ask. I wanted to ask also, like, How does it compare to your painting like, do you feel that you've learned the same things from painting, or is is the patience a little bit different with.
Halima: That's a good question. I don't know. I think. Also, while painting patience also really important, that's
Halima: What painting and Tatreez would have a similar in common. And
Halima: yeah, I think in both I would need. I would say, you need patience. Yeah.
Lina: Yeah, amazing. Well, Halima, thank you so much for joining us. It's been such a pleasure hearing about your journey. Where can everyone find you get in touch. Are you still taking on commissioned pieces? Tell
Lina: people where they can find you.
Halima: Yes, I'm still. You can commission artworks like you did.
Lina: Yeah.
Halima: And also on social media, Instagram, Palestinian artists. I have also Facebook account, but I'm not really active on that. I have shop.
Halima: Palestinian artist. Which is also called Palestinian artist. And yeah, I sell my prints and tote bags, postcards, and such stuff. Yeah.
Lina: Amazing. We'll make sure to have all the links in our show notes. But thank you again, Halima, for joining us. It's been such a pleasure.
Halima: Thank you, and it was nice to talk to you, and I wanted to tell you that you do a really great job, and that you are an inspiration to me, and I think also to many other people. So thank you.
Lina: Thank you likewise. This is good company, good company.
Lina: So I got Halima's like paintings commissioned a few years ago, and I had them on my wall, and I love them. And what I loved about working with her is that she made it super customized. I remember talking to her and telling her. I really like, you know, the concept of a painting I want something with. I want something to represent both my identities Palestinian and Panamanian, and she did the research on like Panamanian dresses, and she had some proposals on how to like, you know, create the paintings. And
Lina: you know, sometimes it's it's hard to find people who are willing to be like. I want her to be creative. But then I also want her to hear what I'm looking for.
Amanne: And.
Lina: And I thought that was a really lovely experience. And I really think everyone should customize or commission artwork, because it's such a pleasure to see this come to life and just see an artist and what they do best. So I'm glad that we got to speak with her and hear a little bit more about
Lina: her family history, her Tatreez journey, and I have been noticing her doing a lot more Tatreez circles and workshops in Germany which I love, and she has such a beautiful eye. So when she documents, those experiences, they're really, really quite beautiful.
Amanne: Yeah. So I mean, if you're in Germany, I don't know how many people listen to us from Germany. We have to look at that. But if you're in Germany you should definitely connect with Halima, and, you know, help build like a Tetris community out there, you know. I think
Amanne: we talked about it kind of at the start with her, but I know it's not necessarily easy to be Palestinian in certain countries, and it seems like Germany is one of those countries. Unfortunately, so, being in community with Palestinians and non-Palestinian allies is always like a comforting space. And so I love that she's.
Amanne: You know she's it sounds like. Also, she's kind of like going around Germany and teaching classes in different in different cities. So it'll be really nice to see what comes of that community in like the next year or so?
Amanne: All right. Well, thank you all so much for joining us for another episode of Tatreez Talk. Of course, as always, we want to hear about your Tatreez journeys. Send your stories directly to us at tatreeztalk@gmail.com, and we might have you on an upcoming episode. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast. On your favorite listening platform and be sure to leave a 5 star review. You could follow me at @minamanne and Lina at @linasthobe, and of course follow the pod at @tatreeztalk.
