Art in the Midst of Quarantine: A Reflective Journey of the Soul

The following artworks relate to the importance of being connected, feeling safe and discovering more about your soul (identity). This quarantine made me realize the importance of connecting with our environments, and how that can impact the way we connect with others. For that reason, I selected artworks that stood out to me during this period, because they represent the soul-searching experience I’ve had in quarantine.

Space In and Out (2020)

A vector illustration with digital brush techniques done in Adobe Illustrator. 

As an interior designer, I learned that our interior environments (safe spaces) usually reflect our exterior environments and the way we view the world, take care of ourselves, and connect to others. This is very important in part in developing your identity, as well as how you want to illustrate and express it to others around you, which I think is where things get complex. The rest is open to interpretation.

A Portrait of Venus (2020)

A vector illustration done in Adobe Illustrator

Referenced from the famous beautiful renaissance painting "Birth of Venus" by the Italian painter Sandro Botticelli. On National Museum Day during quarantine, I realized I had a 4k picture of the painting as my desktop wallpaper, so I got my tablet, sat down and started drawing a portrait of Venus very delicately to celebrate the connectivity of being at a museum. The central figure ‘Venus’ is a simple celebration of beauty, leadership and love. The other figures are welcoming her to celebrate her “rebirth” as a woman that is ready to empower others again; she rose from the sea waters to lead and express her authenticity. Its elements, figures and symbolism connect the dots to a story in my head that I can relate to and learn from. The connection or message I felt from the painting is truly inspirational.

Layal Dahi (@atelier.layal) is a visual artist, a storyteller and an interior designer based in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E, originally from Lebanon. Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, she grew up inspired by many cultures, backgrounds and stories from people that influence her work. She likes to create visual storytelling in spaces, voids and forms by exploring different styles, and narratives. 

She is also a co-founder of a kickstart community in the United Arab Emirates called The Creativity Loop that aims to provide a safe space for emerging creatives in U.A.E virtually that launched this May with very exciting projects to come.