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Reverie
Galvanized mild steel
7.6x2.3x1 m
7.6x2.3x1 m
Terrain
Snaah, Oil, and charcoal on Canvas
240x150 cm
Using snaah as a painting medium, I depict the scenic landscapes of Siji, my mother’s village in Northern UAE.
This technique transforms a traditional bridal perfume into a pigment, embodying the village’s cultural and ecological character. By using snaah to paint the land, the work preserves collective memory through non-traditional archival methods, capturing not only the physical geography but also the dynamic and transient essence of Siji’s villagers and their way of life. The process intertwines material and subject, allowing the land itself to become both the medium and the message.
Collection of Dubai Culture
240x150 cm
Using snaah as a painting medium, I depict the scenic landscapes of Siji, my mother’s village in Northern UAE.
This technique transforms a traditional bridal perfume into a pigment, embodying the village’s cultural and ecological character. By using snaah to paint the land, the work preserves collective memory through non-traditional archival methods, capturing not only the physical geography but also the dynamic and transient essence of Siji’s villagers and their way of life. The process intertwines material and subject, allowing the land itself to become both the medium and the message.
Collection of Dubai Culture
Yehla
Charcoal, Oil, and Pastels on Linen
100x100 cm
From a photo taken in 1963 showing a woman from the Siji or Masafi areas in Fujairah. The photographer recalls that she was on her way to the mountains, and after taking these photos, she rested in Masafi. It is not known exactly which area this resolute woman stood in, but it was mentioned in some of the photos that she was from the Siji area, and this is a re-imagination of one of them.
100x100 cm
From a photo taken in 1963 showing a woman from the Siji or Masafi areas in Fujairah. The photographer recalls that she was on her way to the mountains, and after taking these photos, she rested in Masafi. It is not known exactly which area this resolute woman stood in, but it was mentioned in some of the photos that she was from the Siji area, and this is a re-imagination of one of them.
Yehla II
Zinc Etching Print
Mother
Lino cut
The Glean (2024)
Oil, oil pastels, and charcoal on Canvas
120x85 cm
Inspired by a scene from my short film "Mhayer," an elderly man is seen gathering dead palm fronds, symbolizing his deep connection to the land. The scene contrasts the vibrant green of the living palms with the golden tones of the fallen fronds, reflecting the natural cycles of life and renewal.
120x85 cm
Inspired by a scene from my short film "Mhayer," an elderly man is seen gathering dead palm fronds, symbolizing his deep connection to the land. The scene contrasts the vibrant green of the living palms with the golden tones of the fallen fronds, reflecting the natural cycles of life and renewal.
Aunt Mowaz (2023-2024)
Oil on Canvas
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
Yedi Khalifa (2023-2024)
Oil on Canvas
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
Yedi Obaid (2023-2024)
Oil on Canvas
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
60x50cm
A triptych featuring my Aunt Mowaz (Moza bin Khulief), my grandfather, Obaid bin Khulief, and his brother in-law, Khalifa bin Khulief embodies the resilience of identity, culture, and representation. These portraits are taken from the show ‘Qura Biladi’ in the 80s with them speaking about what Siji means to them. It serves as both a personal homage and an educational tool.
The Sailor I (2022-2024)
Oil on Canvas
60x90 cm
This portrayal delves into the solitary essence of maritime exploration, echoing the resourceful endeavors of our ancestors in pearl diving. It captures not just the physical elements of maritime history but also the intangible aspects of human experience – the resilience, determination, and adaptability required in the search for pearls. This artwork serves as a bridge connecting the historical pursuit of oceanic resources to the broader narrative of human interaction with the sea, embodying the spirit of discovery and survival that characterized our ancestors' pearl diving adventures.
60x90 cm
This portrayal delves into the solitary essence of maritime exploration, echoing the resourceful endeavors of our ancestors in pearl diving. It captures not just the physical elements of maritime history but also the intangible aspects of human experience – the resilience, determination, and adaptability required in the search for pearls. This artwork serves as a bridge connecting the historical pursuit of oceanic resources to the broader narrative of human interaction with the sea, embodying the spirit of discovery and survival that characterized our ancestors' pearl diving adventures.
The Sailor II (2022-2024)
Oil on Canvas
60x90 cm
Drawing parallels to the resourceful spirit of our ancestors who connected deeply with the land, this painting captures not only the physical landscape but also the intangible qualities of resilience, determination, and adaptability necessary for traversing the rugged terrain. It embodies the enduring spirit of discovery and the survival instincts that characterized our ancestors' journeys through the mountains.
60x90 cm
Drawing parallels to the resourceful spirit of our ancestors who connected deeply with the land, this painting captures not only the physical landscape but also the intangible qualities of resilience, determination, and adaptability necessary for traversing the rugged terrain. It embodies the enduring spirit of discovery and the survival instincts that characterized our ancestors' journeys through the mountains.
The Climb
Oil, oil pastels, and charcoal on canvas
130 x 65 cm
A still-frame from the short film "Mhayer," capturing a pivotal moment in the young protagonist's journey. In the scene, Mhayer, a young boy, is seen ascending a tall palm tree, his small figure juxtaposed against the towering height of the trees and the vast, far sky and mountains. As Mhayer reaches towards the sky, symbolizing his quest for understanding and connection with the world around him. The texture of the tree's bark and the boy's determined expression are meticulously detailed, reflecting the physical and emotional challenges of his ascent.
130 x 65 cm
A still-frame from the short film "Mhayer," capturing a pivotal moment in the young protagonist's journey. In the scene, Mhayer, a young boy, is seen ascending a tall palm tree, his small figure juxtaposed against the towering height of the trees and the vast, far sky and mountains. As Mhayer reaches towards the sky, symbolizing his quest for understanding and connection with the world around him. The texture of the tree's bark and the boy's determined expression are meticulously detailed, reflecting the physical and emotional challenges of his ascent.
Mhayer
Film
6:20 min
Music by Daniel Nivia
Colorist Nabeeha Sajjad
6:20 min
Music by Daniel Nivia
Colorist Nabeeha Sajjad
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