The image of the cactus is central to Asim Abu Shakra oeuvre. The thorny plant is indigenous to the Palestinian countryside and is known for its great tenacity and its deep network of roots that makes it practically impossible to uproot. As such, it has become a popular symbol of Palestinian identity. Abu Shakra made the connection between the cactus as a national icon – sabra, an Arab symbol for tenacity, with the word “saber” itself meaning patience – and his own experience as an Arab living in Tel Aviv when he saw a potted cactus on the windowsill of a neighbour. That particular plant had been separated from its cluster, removed from the wilderness, and placed in a small pot, and was thus estranged. As a Palestinian studying and living in the Israeli capital, the artist felt his personal story mirrored that of the cactus. He was diagnosed with cancer in his 20s and, in his final years, as his illness progressed, the sabra began to also stand for a detached loneliness and a closeness with death. He passed away at only 28 years old, yet he still had a prolific career and has since been accepted into the canon of Palestinian artists.