Sometimes, art says what words simply can’t.
This September, The Bateekha Project is bringing together 28 internationally acclaimed artists from around the world for a charity exhibition and auction in London, all centered around one familiar fruit with an extraordinary story: the watermelon.
Running from September 15–18, 2026 at Gallery 1957, in London, the initiative transforms handcrafted fiberglass watermelon sculptures into one-of-a-kind artworks celebrating Palestinian identity, resilience, and hope. Every piece will be auctioned on September 18, with 100% of proceeds supporting Healing for Gaza, which provides trauma therapy and mental health services for Palestinian children, families, and frontline workers affected by the ongoing war.
Why a Watermelon?
For Palestinians, the watermelon is far more than a summer fruit.
Its red, green, white, and black mirror the colours of the Palestinian flag, making it a longstanding symbol of identity and resistance. Through The Bateekha Project, that symbol becomes sculpture.
Each piece begins as a handcrafted fiberglass cast of a real watermelon sourced from the streets of Cairo and moulded in Old Cairo‘s historic craft district before being sent to artists to transform into entirely original works.
An International Conversation Through Art
Founded by Hedayat Taymour alongside co-founders Ghada Sousou, Dima Fakhry, Taya Elzayadi, and Malak Fouad, the project brings together artists from all over the world.
Together, their works explore memory, identity, grief, solidarity, and hope through a shared canvas. Alongside the exhibition, visitors can browse a full-colour catalogue before the week concludes with a live charity auction, where every sale supports Healing for Gaza.
Three Watermelons That Stayed With Us
Among the many sculptures on display, these three stood out for the stories they tell.
Adeline de Monseignat: Finding Hope Inside the Fracture
Adeline de Monseignat‘s sculpture breaks the watermelon open, using its exposed seeds to represent resilience and the possibility of new life. As she puts it:
“The cut reveals more than matter: it gestures toward the raw truths surfacing today… Within this rupture, the seeds persist, small, resilient carriers of future life.”
Louis Barthélemy: Where Contemporary Art Meets Historic Cairo
Created with master tentmaker Tarek El Safty, Louis Barthélemy‘s Bateekha is handcrafted using the traditional Khayamiya appliqué technique in Historic Cairo, bringing one of Egypt’s oldest living crafts into conversation with a contemporary message of solidarity and hope.
Caroline Burraway: A Watermelon That Documents Reality
Caroline Burraway‘s sculpture features photographs from the war, including images shared during video calls with a family in Gaza who lost one of their sons. The result is an intimate portrait of loss that brings viewers closer to the lived reality behind the headlines.
Art With a Purpose
More than an exhibition, The Bateekha Project turns one of Palestine’s most enduring symbols into a collective act of creative solidarity. Every watermelon tells a different story, but together they show how art can preserve memory, spark conversation, and directly support those who need it most.
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