"What I love about art is that people see it through their own eyes, not just as we tell it."

Baraa is a 14-year-old student at Shatila One Center, one of our most talented young artists. She has participated in all of our art exhibitions, and one of her artworks was even displayed at a London exhibition called The Flowers Unfold to the Sounds of the Past. This painting was inspired by a difficult memory from the past when she was walking at night in Syria and stumbled upon a head, which left a lasting scar in her mind. It symbolizes the growth she experienced after that event.

Baraa found comfort and escape through art, describing how it helped her overcome negative feelings and express herself in her own way. Baraa’s favorite piece is the one she calls Hugging the Sun because, as she said, it depicts a growing flower from the heart that expresses many emotions. She explains that the colors inside the heart represent the chaos within each human being. Yet, the growing flower symbolizes hope. Baraa uses the flower in both of her paintings to represent hope. In The Flowers Unfold to the Sounds of the Past, the flower is the main subject, with the heads in the background. While the painting is inspired by a painful memory, its focus is on hope, symbolizing a brighter future that grows from the past's darkness.

Baraa’s talent has not gone unnoticed. She is now part of one-on-one classes to help her build a strong portfolio that will earn her a scholarship at any art school or university she aims for. As a small teaser, Baraa is also working on another painting that will be presented at an exhibition in Italy.

“She has an incredible style and brushstrokes. Her ability to read colors and shades has matured beautifully, and she’s added a realistic touch to her pieces with shading techniques. She has truly found peace with what she creates,” said Ms. Boshra, the art coordinator.