An out-of-the-box visual treat

Vivarium by Zaina Khayyad (AUS)

Palestinian national and architect by profession, Zaina displayed her artwork Vivarium for the first time at an art exhibition. Inspired by natural surroundings, the drawing on canvas is her drawing inspiration from various patterns naturally present in nature, hence creating imaginary creatures.

Transfiguration and Kufi by Sema Orouk (AUS)

With the use of sheets wood veneers and acrylic paint, Orouk, a Syrian national, is inspired by the natural process of chaotic burning in nature. “After the act of random, natural burning, the technique of applying order to that process would result in such a symmetrical structure,” said Orouk. Her second piece ‘Kufi’ is a 3-D printed lamp design with denotes the lost calligraphy technique of Kufi, usually used in mosques.

Bar Table by Renad Hussein (AUS)

A Jordanian national, Hussein is a student of interior design and has tried to bring out the importance of the ritual of sharing Arabic coffee in the region. The table is made of concrete and wood, and has engravings on the concrete with a centre slot to place coffee.

Architectural Timeline by Ranim Orouk (AUS)

Using the medium of digital photography, Syrian national Ranim has created a timeline of pictures symbolising changes in the architectural landscape in the Middle East. Starting from Islamic architecture the collage eventually moves into new age and contemporary design. 

ReING by Rami Abdelhamid (AUS)

Abdelhamid’s art installation comes from a recycled old printer found in a scrap yard. Using the same bolts and screws in the old printer, he has tried to showcase usefulness, bringing purpose into old material.

Collapse of Time by Sawsan Al Bahar (AUS)

Syrian national Al Bahar has created a collection of lithographs and 3-D etchings. It represents her attempt to come to terms with the mystery of time. It is an expression of the artist’s personal struggle with its elusiveness.

Disturbance by Emad Araki (AUS)  

Araki voluntarily went through four months of research, to understand the feeling of ‘disturbance’. An abstract film, Araki’s installation displays short scenes and sound effects and induces the feeling of disturbance in the viewer.

Matrix of Phenomological Transparency by Reema Abu Hassan (AUS)

Palestinian national Hassan’s artwork is inspired by the mushrebias which are found across the region. They create a rather interesting and ambient play of light and shadow within the space which they shade as well as within themselves.

Melee by Sally Masoud (AUS)

Majority of Masoud’s works deal with the notion of the unknown, the bizarre, the weird and the eccentric. A student of visual communication, Masoud said: “This series is an extension of one of my a previous projects called “Insanity”. It dealt with conceptually projecting a dream; a vivid yet dark hallucination of the mind. The figures are seen in the act of a struggle, in a place that seems to be a psychiatric ward of some sort. They subtly hint towards an uncontrollable impulsive behaviour”

The Feminine Letter T by Moatasim Al Khatib (AUD)

According Al Khatib, in this art work, the feminine Arabic letter separated herself from the (girl) changing to fit in, but when she returned to her root sentence, she has turned into broken fragments. There are hidden treasures and a deep philosophy obliviously shaping this language to what it is now, and in the Arabic language, letters are people and words are a society.

Wata’awano by Nada Khalid AlMulla

According to Saudi national Al Mulla: “In my painting, the Arabic letters of the word “Wata’awano”, and its meaning: work together, is written in the bottom of the structure by the folding of the form. It is positioned in the base to serve as a strong foundation that holds up and stabilizes complex works.” The 20-year-old student added: “Being a part of a team and working towards a goal allows different little ideas to be united into a stronger one. That idea can turn into action, which can lead to change.”