The /Mend/ series is a vivid showcase about confronting emotional trauma, and the process of healing. The unfortunate reality is that the damage & burden of emotional trauma is often a life altering event that very few are able to manage, communicate and process in a healthy way. Despite being an internal wound, in many instances, emotional damage leaves residual scarring that affects one’s optics on life, people and environments. The artworks in this series are a visual exploration of emotional healing, and a demonstration of how though damaged & scarred, a restoration can be personally achieved when we come to terms with our pain. Utilizing various mixed media materials, Salem illustrates the scarring process that takes place with any type of trauma, and how defiantly the altering effect can be one of empowerment, beauty and resilience. The strength and healing represented in this vibrant series are emblematic of the optimism that Salem wants to impart to her audience. Salem’s ultimate vision was to create work that resonates with all humanity, and stands as a visual representation that we are more than our pain & past experiences.

Artist Bio:

From the captivating abstract figures of her “Here, but not Here” series, to her buoyant images from her “Loose Forms” series, to her current vibrant “/mend/” series, Dina AZ. Salem continues to personally challenge herself and the very definition of a multidisciplinary artist. Often exploring subjects of immigration, emotional healing, femininity and joy, she embraces various mediums such as watercolors, oil, acrylic, charcoal sticks, various raw materials & discarded street materials to create visual creations that evoke emotion and contemplation.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Salem grew up on the Mediterranean sea, where as a child her innate ability to masterfully produce representational drawings, paintings and sculptures was first recognized and nurtured by her late father Ahmed Zaki. Her connection with him and her art remains until today, in that she signs all her artwork with his personal initials, a signifier of her conviction to utilize the gift that he recognized in her.