Explore how folk heritage, mythology, and traditional design can be reimagined through the lens of contemporary digital collage in this online workshop led by The View from Here exhibition artist Zaina El-Said.

Participants will delve into the dialogue between past and present, examining how symbols, colours, and cultural motifs can evolve into new visual languages. Through discussion, visual examples, and reflection, the session invites participants to consider how art can bridge memory and modernity, transforming heritage into inspiration for the future.

Useful information:

• Please note that this is an online workshop delivered via Zoom. A dedicated link will be sent to all participants ahead of the event.

• Participants will be sent a digital pack of collage images and illustrations, created for the workshop by Zaina El-Said. These can be printed or used for digital collage ahead of the workshop.

• Zaina El-Said will guide participants to create their own digital and/or analogue collage, participants can choose which medium and method they wish to use.

Materials and Equipment List

Digital Collage

• Adobe Photoshop (or similar software)

• Pen, paper and ruler for sketching ideas

• Reference images, textures, or personal photos you would like to use, either your own or those shared by the artist

• Optional: drawing tablet

Analogue

• Pre-print any images, textures or personal photos you would like to use, including those shared by the artist

• Pen, paper, scissors, glue, ruler and papers or textures for collage

Meet Zaina El-Said

Zaina El-Said is a Jordanian digital collage artist whose work bridges mythology, heritage, and contemporary aesthetics. Drawing on ancestral narratives and world folk traditions, her art reimagines cultural memory through layered digital compositions rich in symbolism and texture. Over the course of her career, Zaina has held more than ten solo exhibitions and participated in numerous international biennales and group shows across the Middle East, Europe, and Russia. Her works are part of notable public and private collections, including the Durham University collection in England, and the Aga Khan Museum in Canada.