Public Project
About
Summary
“Be beautiful like a rose but don’t be cruel like its thorn, speak to others in such a way that you either give them life or take life, but never leave wounds”
-Shams Tabrizi
Walaa is a Sudanese documentary photographer and multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Her work explores the intersection of memory, historical sites, and identity, often focusing on the emotional landscapes shaped by displacement and conflict. Through photography, video, and installation, Walaa documents the hidden communities and small, sentimental details that define the human experience.With a background in both documentary and photojournalism, her work captures the untold stories of those living on the margins, framed by a deep connection to physical spaces and the construction of collective memory. She participated in several exhibitions, including "In Memory Embodied" with "Nargis" project at the AUC Cairo in 2022 and "BLUE" at the Goethe Institute in 2023,
showcasing her ability to blend personal narrative with broader social issues. she has been featured in Egypt, Sudan, Denmark, Uganda and others, She is a member of world press photo "Africa region" She received a scholarship from the Ecca Family to study at the Danish School for Media and Journalism (DMJX) in Aarhus, Denmark, where I completed my diploma. Additionally, I'd awarded a scholarship to study under a director at ICP in New York City, further honing my skills in visual storytelling.
Art statement
I believe in photography as an element to narrate and integrate photograph to explore the notion of memory, identity, space and time.
With a diverse portfolio that spans conventional photography, video, installation, and books, my approach is both intimate and expansive. I focus on small, sentimental details, framing my subjects in ways that reveal the deeper emotional and cultural layers of their experiences.
Education:
Walaa has Studied architecture in Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt 2015-2020
Danish school of media and journalism in Aarhus, Denmark 2024
International center of photograph, New York (Currenntly) 2024-2025
VII Academy, documentary, Native Arabic Speakers (Online course) 2021
“Be beautiful like a rose but don’t be cruel like its thorn, speak to others in such a way that you either give them life or take life, but never leave wounds” -Shams Tabrizi
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