oses of Humanity, a powerful, immersive art installation that commemorates the children lost in Gaza, opened recently at Ustad Allah Bux Gallery, Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore.

As soon as I stepped into the venue, I had an overwhelming sense of grief. The installation is an attempt to preserve and build collective memory, inspiring the consciousness of its audience to become better informed individuals. It is inspired by Surah Ar-Rahman’s Verse 37, which translates as “When the heavens will split apart, becoming rose-red like burnt oil.”

The rose, deeply symbolic in Islamic tradition, represents divine beauty, paradise and the soul’s spiritual journey, making it a fitting tribute to the innocent children of Gaza. Together, these glowing red roses on Earth mirror the celestial Rosette Nebula above, a cosmic rose of stars, suggesting that the children now shine among the heavens in the grand rose of humanity.

The project features over 15,000 hand-sewn roses made from recycled fabric, each representing a child’s life lost, accompanied by sound, scent and light to evoke a space of collective remembrance and compassion. It seems as if the heavens and Earth are unified, connected via this artsy portal, to bridge the gap between the two worlds.

What intrigued me was the project’s service to the community on multiple levels. It holds the potential to empower numerous women who are working from the comfort of their homes to earn a living for themselves. It’s an enabling, green project which allows women to earn economic independence through their craftsmanship. Each rose is meticulously and carefully brought to existence as these women come together to bring life to the deceased. The project relies heavily on symbolism. Roses are made from different fabrics, each displaying a unique design, as if they are teaching us to embrace diversity and become more inclusive.

Only discarded materials were used, to reduce waste and show how everything and everyone has the potential to serve a remarkable purpose in the world. In other words, each one of us matters.

The project features over 15,000 hand-sewn roses made from recycled fabric, each representing a child’s life lost, accompanied by sound, scent and light to evoke a space of collective remembrance and compassion.

The initiative is led by Labour & Love in collaboration with The Fundraisers BBS, aiming to raise $1.5 million for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s Child Amputee Rehabilitation Programme in Gaza. Anyone can sponsor a rose and contribute to the charity drive to help an amputee. It allows individuals to play an active role in serving their communities and acting as responsible human beings.

The immersive art offers a space, literal and metaphorical, for historicisation of violence intended apparently to cause the erasure of an entire race. It develops into an act of defiance and resilience against the brutal dehumanisation. Roses of Humanity seizes the essence of diversity in humanity and instills sensitivity towards human life. Responding to the extermination of identities and individuals, this is a powerful proposition and a distinctive take on narratives.

Speaking on the occasion, Nuria Iqbal, the curator of Roses of Humanity, said, “Each rose is crafted from discarded fabric, once cast aside, now reborn in beauty, symbolising the forgotten lives of Gaza’s children… Together, these roses form a radiant tribute to humanity, reminding us that dignity flourishes when we are seen, heard and held in compassion.”

Art enthusiasts are welcome to name-tag and participate in the act of honouring those who have lost their lives in Gaza. The children seemed to have whole careers ahead of them when their lives were cut short in the horrendous scheme of occupation. The tags resemble wristbands issued at hospitals, an act of naming the innocent lives lost in Gaza since October 2023. One cannot always fathom the loss of 15,000 souls unless there is a tangible way of verifying the count. Hence, the immersive art experience becomes an act of remembrance, aimed at creating a lasting impact. What better tribute can there be to the children of Gaza, whose laughter was silenced too soon, than this symbol of purity and transcendence?

Qurat Ul Ain Khalil is a lecturer at the Department of English Language and Literature at Kinnaird College, Lahore