Like many people, the idea of “home” has changed a lot for me throughout my life. I was born and raised in the UK, with family roots in Sudan, lived in Doha for 5 years and then in Amsterdam and had a small stint in Italy before moving to the US to pursue my masters and eventually settle in New York. I returned to London after a 3-week excursion in different parts of East Africa. Travel has shaped so much of who I am as a person, and in turn it has also shaped my art practice.
As a Black Muslim Arab woman, I can identify with many different groups of people. I like to think this is the same for a lot of my art work. My visual approach draws inspiration from different parts of my identity, and they all sit in conversation with one another. The Arabic language, Sudanese textile patterns, religious iconography or immigration are just some examples of things that inspire a lot of the visuals I create. I also reflect on the action of being in transit in my work often. I draw a lot of inspiration from WhatsApp messages and different means of communication between loved ones across borders.
