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Emirati artist Dana Al Dhaen captures nature's hidden worlds in captivating visuals
26 June 2025 23:04
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Armed with a macro lens, a patient eye, and a vivid imagination, Dana Al Dhaen attempts to uncover often-overlooked microcosms in the natural world that reveal themselves only to those who stop and look closely. Her work 'Imprints of the Invisible' is displayed as part of the 'Cartographies, Revised' group exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat, showcasing the artworks of seven emerging artists from the Photography Studio's four-month Dhaen is an Emirati artist with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and sustainability. From an early age, she has been drawn to the natural world. 'I was that curious kid who is always playing grass and wanting to pet the ants,' she shared in a recent interview with Aletihad. Al Dhaen merges photography with digital art to create captivating visual narratives with fantastical creatures. Her approach involves capturing extreme close-ups of smaller plants or other subtle elements in nature, then overlaying them with imaginative, digitally drawn her art, she taps into pareidolia, a phenomenon in which people perceive meaningful images in random stimuli, like faces in Dhaen views these moments, not as illusions, but as creative catalysts that guide her digital interventions. 'I take a macro photo, then I stay with it. I reflect on it daily for weeks, and slowly, I start seeing these unexpected creatures. I draw them, and until I feel the image is complete and no other creatures are speaking out to me — then I know it's done,' she explained. 'Whatever is happening to me at that moment might influence what I draw.'Though nature has many muses, its quieter members are what grips Al Dhaen's attention. 'The underdogs of nature, in my humble opinion, are plants,' she said. 'Animals make sounds, move and play around. Plants are quiet, but they possess incredible capabilities and resilience. They just don't announce it loudly. You have to look carefully.'This philosophy is echoed throughout Al Dhaen's exhibition layout. Her photographs are grouped in two ways: some are mounted at eye level, while others are placed horizontally on slightly elevated platforms, compelling viewers to intentionally direct their gaze down.
The 'Cartographies, Revised' group exhibition runs at Manarat Al Saadiyat from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm, until September 1.
