Degree: Fine Art Photography
University: The Glasgow School of Art
Graduation Year: 2023
Celebrating the beauty and culture of Iraq through a close engagement with the date palm, the determined and devoted attention of Haneen Hadiy's painting and photography seeks to challenge misconceptions and dominant cultural narratives about Iraq. Positing the date palm as having nurtured civilization, the trees appear again and again in Haneen's work, embodying a reciprocal relationship with the land, helping us think outside the framework of the human to understand the integral connections that exist between societies and the natural world. The majesty and beauty of the date palms are rendered carefully across her body of work, her photographs intimate and evocative, capturing fine details illuminated in golden fading sunlight that are contrasted with strong silhouetted shadows. Haneen's ink depictions of the trees are painted using palm fronds, closing a loop in which the trees are inspiration, tool and final representation. Haneen is a 2023 Glasgow School of Art graduate as well as a New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize nominee, and in 2022 was the recipient of a Dewar Award, the proceeds of which will go towards the development and installation of a solo exhibition of Haneen's work in Iraq.
My interdisciplinary practice involves my cultural heritage, family history. Iraq is the Cradle of Civilisation and the Iraqi date palm nurtured civilisation. My creations powerfully connect with the land of my ancestors. I focus on revealing the lands history, culture and existing scenic attractions whilst discovering a deep growing connection to the Iraqi date palm which is considered a symbol of identity, growth and peace of mind. My work is known for its distinctive intimacy and integrity. As I continue to discover the deep growing connection to Iraqi date palms, I explore anthropomorphism through my response focusing on the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to the non-human entity. As I understand the relationship between myself and the land my practice explores the concept of land and time. As a bicultural artist living in diaspora, I explore the concept of what I call a fitting displacement. I address the reality of belonging to two completely different lands yet constantly feeling more connected to one than the other. My approach forms a deep connection between the moments captured within both lands. The Iraqi land and the Scottish land.
(2023) The Land of Blackness, Iota Gallery, Glasgow
(2022) Between Belonging, The Station, Baghdad
(2019) The Heart of My Homeland, Marylebone Gallery, London
(2017) Journey Through Iraq, Glasgow City Chambers, Scotland
(2023) Degree Show, The Glasgow School of Art, Scotland
(2023) Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool
(2023) Stills: New Foto, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
(2023) START, Saatchi Gallery, London
(2023) Futureproof, Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
(2022) Blad'na, Middle East Archive, New York
(2022) Blad'na, Middle East Archive, Los Angeles
(2022) Solace, House For An Art Lover, Glasgow
(2020) Was of Seeing, Glasgow Womens Library, Scotland
(2022) Dewar Arts
(2020) Scottish Women Photographers
(2023) New Contemporaries
(2023) Photo LondonHahnemühle Student Award Nominee
(2023) Creative Scotland