Between Hand & Heart

"Between Hand & Heart" is as much about rediscovery as it is about exploration. It is a mixed media project—where the act of creating becomes a dialogue between control and surrender. This creative journey has been intuitive, led by instinctual making, material play, and a compulsion to reclaim my own artistic identity. Through collaging, collecting objects, writing, dismantling and reconstructing, I have found that fragmentation becomes a language of transformation, and a way to speak to the fluidity of identity. 


Letting go has been central to this artistic inquiry, a personal reckoning in an attempt to understand what it means to occupy the dual roles of muse and maker. This freedom in creation mirrors the playful, exploratory nature of childhood, where the boundaries of what's possible are constantly questioned and reshaped. In tapping into these instincts, I reconnect with a sense of curiosity, letting the process flow rather than controlling it. As I navigate the complexities of creation, I must step back, release the pressure of perfection, and embrace the beauty of imperfection.

Laila Alnaqbi
book arts, fine art, mixed media, photography
GENDER AND IDENTITY, MEMORY

Laila Alnaqbi is a multidisciplinary artist from Abu Dhabi, UAE, exploring the intersection of photography, fine art, and mixed media. Her practice examines identity and representation through an intuitive and improvisational approach to digital and tactile manipulation techniques.

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