Me, Mom, and Mariam

Alaa's painting process centers on building layers, working with oil to add, subtract, and blur. Most of her work is inspired by memories, stories, and even events, aiming to create her own mythology—a means of reconnecting her personal narrative with collective memory. She is deeply interested in human relations and enjoys observing people and listening to their stories. Drawn to the painterly quality of colors created by old film cameras, amateur lighting, as well as the informal postures of figures, she collects various items such as old photos, letters, tapes, negatives, etc. These diverse images collectively create a cast of characters and a narrative to draw from.