The fingers of Somaia Shahin 32 years old turn the seashells and rocks of the Gaza Sea coast into a display of beauty using the poems of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish the key of return and the historical map of Palestine.
Somaia has chosen a new pattern of arts engraving colorful drawings and phrases on stones and seashells and decorating the hands of girls with henna.
Somaia a mother of five is taking engraving as her career of profession after graduating from the English language department and not practicing her teaching career.
Henna Patterns
Influenced by the first phase of her life in the United Arab Emirates she drew attention to the famous inscription of henna on women’s hands. When she returned to Gaza she developed her observation from a hobby to a career.
She added to the PIC reporter “I read about technical initiatives and I followed stories and experiences of engraving on candles but I wanted to engrave on something solid. I chose stones and seashells and developed my hobby in engraving henna.”
Somaia wanders the beach of the Gaza searching for stones with certain specifications which are suitable for engraving and painting. Some customers often bring their own stones because what she has does not match their specifications.
“I choose soft stones that inspire me to draw the face of a lion an owl a skull or artistic forms and recently I began to engrave and draw on pottery vessels.”
Somaia employs the colors used in painting as well as henna both in its black and brown forms. At the same time she uses the plastic conical bags used to engrave henna to engrave on stones.
Stones speak
Somaia looks at some of her works deeply which she displays on a table pointing to some of the artistic stones she proudly made and cherishes the most.
She added “Stones speak for themselves. I give them life by engraving on them. It started as a hobby and now I began a small project to make my living. I’m a mother of five and I have allocated a room in my house to decorate girls and brides with henna during festivals.”
Somaia keeps some stones she made and other unfinished stones saying: “I keep them while waiting for customers who want to write their names or phrases they love using nail polish paint or the map of Palestine or the key of return.”
Somaia’s hobby paved the way for her to meet many solidarity delegations in the besieged Gaza Strip. She sold them many of her products making good use of her English in the process.
