Meet Dina Saadi | Artist & Muralist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dina Saadi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dina, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
A lot of people including artists link pain & suffering to the creative process and consider it as an important element to be able to create “something extraordinary”. Sometimes it gets to the extreme of believing that “real art” can’t be realized without the artist or creator experiencing hardship in some way or form! I personally disagree with that. To me, the main drive and force to capture creativity are through joy and curiosity. Here I want to emphasize that starting an art career is not an easy conquest by all means! It is challenging and many times frustrating, however, it is extremely rewarding.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is inspired by nature & people, and the relationship between the two. It focuses on our sameness & resemblance to nature rather than our disconnection from it. I think once we truly understand that we are one with nature & not separated from it, we will start taking better care of our planet & also of each other.

Since I was little, I always had this fantasy world in my mind, I use to daydream about it or see it in my sleep, and now, with the coldness & toughness of the real world as an adult, The only way I can recall that world & connect to my inner child is by recreating it & tapping into my unconscious mind through my art & my paintings. It’s the best way for me to keep my child-like imagination, curiosity & excitement about living.

The visuals & patterns I paint are inspired by many things like urban life, fashion, architecture, cultures, underwater creatures, wildlife & my own dreams!

All the portraits I’ve painted (so far) has female-identifying characters in them, as I have a strong connection to them & It’s almost like I want to give them more representation & a voice that we still lack in real life globally, and – in the process- giving myself that voice & space for self-expression. I hope my mural art journey will inspire the next generation of female artists & change-makers in the middle east & my country Syria, to follow their dreams & choose to live a brave and un-apologetic creative path, which is not always an easy option for many people where I come from.

I think what sets me apart from others is simply being me. Everyone is unique in their own way and being us is what sets us apart from everyone else, and that’s why authenticity and self expression are so important to me.

It wasn’t easy to get where I am now, I grew up in Syria so I wasn’t exposed to street art before I moved & I never imagined that being a full-time artist is something that is even remotely possible for me. It’s not easy, especially with the “starving artist” mentality and stereotype that artists are surrounded by everywhere. But it is possible for sure. It takes a lot of courage & determination to pursue a creative career, not only because you’re putting your own heart & story on a pedestal (especially for street artists). Also because artists nowadays have to wear so many hats, managing the business side, admin, marketing, finance, research & still manage to be creative & authentic. That’s not an easy job. But it is rewarding beyond words!

Art touches so many lives in ways that are astonishing, it drives us to wake up every day to pursue our dreams and fall in love with life again, it inspires us to be better & help each other regardless of our differences, it pushes social, environmental & political boundaries and triggers questions & thoughts that might never come into our attention otherwise.

What you are most proud of?
I’m proud of all the 140+ murals that I’ve painted all around the globe, because each one of them was a new lesson. a new expericane & a new adventure. Seeing how people interacted with them and the impact they made is also beyond rewarding & it always reminds me how incredible my job is.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If i had a visitor in Dubai I would take them to Al Bastakeya (Fahidi historical neighborhood), then we would go to the old Dubai souk & Creek where we can have some Arabic food & tea, and take a Abra ride (Abra is the small boat you take to cross the creek for 1 aed) to the other side to visit the spice market.

Then i would head to Alserkal avenue. This place started out as a small block of industrial warehouse spaces but it is now became one of the main urban hubs in the city fusing art, food, fashion and music with a comprehensive programme of cultural events. When i have any artists visiting, I also make sure to show them some of the murals we have here, scattered around town, and maybe they can joun the paint jams that we sometimes have right outside the loop store in Al Quoz with the local art community.

I would also make sure to show them the many beautiful beaches in Dubai, the desert & Al Qudra Lakes which is a great getaway camping spot close to the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

To me, my close family has been a pivotal force in where I am today so shoutout to my Mom, my partner, my cat & Big Magic (a book written by Elizabeth Gilbert).

Website: www.dinasaadi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinasaadi

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinasaadi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaadiDina

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaadiDina/

Image Credits
My personal photo: Photo by Michael R. Cruz Pow! Wow! Rotterdam Street Art festival – Photo by Alphons Nieuwenhuis Pow! Wow! Long Beach Street Art festival – Photo by @_.the.adventurist._ Baladk Street Art Festival, Amman, Jordan – Photo by me