Government documents serve the explicit correlation of identity and affiliation. Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar uses these attributes as samples for alternative models of identity and anticipates the existence of a state of Palestine, which until now is a mere utopian idea. The artist decided to declare the existence of a non-existent state and created a stamp with which he marks the passports of travellers and pedestrians.

The stamp depicts the Palestine sunbird and a jasmine flower. It tells the story of a state-to-be, instead of looping discussions about a one-state or a two-state ‘solution’.

Jarrar made these refrigerator magnets with the State of Palestine stamp design from his ongoing project especially for Disarming design from Palestine. They are produced in Khaled Fakhouri’s pottery factory in Al-Khalil–Hebron.

• Further reading:
• Diplomatic relations and the State of Palestine [UN observer mission of the State of Palestine]
• Khaled Jarrar’s Notes on Displacement [International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam]

Design