In the aftermath of the 2024 conflict in Gaza, artist Areej Al-Saafin is working to rebuild her life and creative practice following a debilitating injury that cost her right eye. Areej, who began painting at age 12, lost not only her sight in one eye but also her studio, artwork, and materials amid the destruction wrought by the war.

Prior to the conflict, Al-Saafin had developed her studio into a personal sanctuary filled with paintings, brushes, canvases, and art supplies, all integral to her identity as an artist. The damage to her workspace and loss of essential tools, combined with the physical trauma she sustained, have profoundly affected her ability to paint. She describes the injury as more than a loss of vision—it represents the loss of a world she had carefully built through years of dedication.

Despite these setbacks, Al-Saafin has resumed painting using whatever materials she can salvage. With scarce access to traditional supplies like paper, charcoal, and paints, she adapted by creating artwork on scraps of paper and pieces of wood collected amid harsh living conditions. Her resourcefulness reflects the scarcity and hardship that Gaza’s residents face during wartime, often forcing them to repurpose basic materials to meet daily needs.

The nature of Al-Saafin’s recent work has shifted noticeably, with her images frequently depicting eyes, somber figures, and single-eyed characters. These motifs emerged spontaneously, reflecting her personal experience of pain and loss. Her drawings include figures that appear imprisoned or censored, with eyes that lack detail, symbolizing the emotional barriers created by trauma.

Painting now requires more effort and concentration due to her impaired vision, but Al-Saafin remains determined to continue expressing herself artistically. She views her work as a means to process her suffering and to regain a sense of control and identity disrupted by the conflict.

Looking ahead, Al-Saafin harbors a strong aspiration to travel abroad for medical treatment to restore her sight. She hopes that surgical intervention will enable her to return to painting with the same passion and freedom she experienced before the war. Reopening her studio and reclaiming her creative life remain central to her vision of recovery.

Al-Saafin’s story highlights the resilience of individuals affected by war, as they strive to rebuild not only physical spaces but also their personal and cultural identities amid immense adversity.