In December 2021, after 8 months of not picking up a paint brush, I felt I needed to start painting again but remained uninspired. The creative block reflected a general mental block, and I knew if I can get myself to paint again maybe I can begin to process whatever it was that stopped me from painting in the first place. 

A month after completing the "شاي وحبر" series, I painted one of my favorite pieces (see photo) - two women sitting by a door inspired by a photo from Tunisia. The painting took sometime to finish but the concept felt simple, it used few colors and details sparingly, it was a snapshot of a seemingly unremarkable moment, it reflected a part of the world I knew but didn't - one I felt nostalgic for yet spent very little time in. Since then more of my work has been inspired by the SWANA/MENA region.