Maitha Hamdan’s Exclusive Interview on Breaking News

Maitha Hamdan, an Emirati artist, is known for her bold approach to societal expectations and the psychological toll they impose on women. Her upcoming 2025 Winter Season exhibition at Tashkeel explores self-liberation through performance, installation, and videography, challenging boundaries that limit personal and artistic expression. Inspired by the Arabian landscape and culture, she transforms deeply personal themes into a thought-provoking experience.

Through the Critical Practice Programme, she delves into research, reflection, and mentorship, shaping a multidisciplinary approach to her work. Using wax as a symbolism of endurance and transformation, she examines the limitations, struggles, and constraints faced by individuals in society. The contrast between solid and liquid states represents the unpredictability of life, much like the weight and strength carried by those who navigate hardship and suppression.

Her work fosters an immersive dialogue on women’s experiences, exploring grief, vulnerability, and the unspoken emotions within the fabric of society. She engages with mediums such as photography, movement, and space, creating an interactive media experience that resonates with both UAE and global audiences. Each piece serves as a strong message, sparking conversations on privilege, misinterpretation, and pressure.

Her artistic practice is fueled by studio visits, experiments, and mentorship, including support from the Sheikha Salama Foundation Art Fellowship. The handcrafted nature of her work integrates AI, technology, and traditional techniques, highlighting the intersection of art and storytelling. By embracing rawness and unpredictability, she gives life to themes of love, celebration, war, anger, birth, blood, and death, turning personal memories and emotions into universally engaging narratives.

With a commitment to pushing artistic boundaries, Maitha’s work challenges realities while amplifying a global voice for those who feel unheard. Her immersive experiences redefine the role of art, not just as a form of expression, but as a tool for deep engagement and resonance with contemporary issues.