Dabke Dancer by Halima

This is an ink painting of a dabke dancer. I’ve always loved using ink to display action, and with this piece, I used ink to capture the movements and depth of the dabke dance form. As a Pakistani American and ally to the Palestinian cause, I have always been very conscious of amplifying rather than speaking for the Palestinian people. I find that in a world of social media, much of which is filled with performative activism, it can be difficult to filter through the noise of others. Therefore, I choose to channel my allyship through my art, and ensure that with it, I accurately capture the beauty, power, and resilience of the Palestinian identity. With dabke dance in particular, there is a clear beauty and strength to it, so as an artist, it only was fitting to use ink to capture such qualities.

About the Artist

This art was done by Halima Hasan. As an ally to the Palestinian cause, she channels her support through art as a way to amplify Palestinian voices. Halima is deeply appreciative of Palestinian artistic culture and enjoys integrating it into her own artistic creations. Follow her on Instagram: @noor.drws.