Biography-

Haneen Hadiy was born in Glasgow, Scotland to Iraqi parents in 1999. Hadiy’s visual artistic practice explores her cultural heritage, family history and the reality of belonging between her motherland Iraq and her land of birth Scotland. Her work is known for its distinctive intimacy and integrity deeply influenced by her experience growing up discovering an identity by adapting to both cultures yet constantly feeling more connected to one than the other. Haneen Hadiy has exhibited around Scotland, London, Baghdad, New York and Los Angeles addressing the misconceptions and common narrative of Iraq by revealing the true beauty within the country.
2022 Dewar Arts Awardee.  Shortlisted for New contemporaries 2023.

Artist statement

My interdisciplinary practice involves my cultural heritage, family history. Iraq is the Cradle of Civilisation and the Iraqi date palm nurtured civilisation. My creations powerfully connect with the land of my ancestors. I focus on revealing the lands history, culture and existing scenic attractions whilst discovering a deep growing connection to the Iraqi date palm which is considered a symbol of identity, growth and peace of mind. My work is known for its distinctive intimacy and integrity. As I continue to discover the deep growing connection to Iraqi date palms, I explore anthropomorphism through my response focusing on the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to the non-human entity.  As I understand the relationship between myself and the land my practice explores the concept of land and time.

As a bicultural artist living in diaspora, I explore the concept of what I call a fitting displacement. I address the reality of belonging to two completely different lands
yet constantly feeling more connected to one than the other. My approach forms a deep connection between the moments captured within both lands. The Iraqi land and the Scottish land.

Project Information –  

The Mother of The Motherland explores Haneen Hadiy’s growing connection towards Iraqi date palms through an anthropomorphic approach.’ My form of art making has become an act of devotion.’ A multidisciplinary documentation of being deeply present within land and time.

Nature nurtured civilisation.
The date palm is responsible for growth of the human population.
The first palm tree to be discovered was in the land of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq).
This was around 3000BC. Iraq has been battered by three years of drought, low rain fall, reduced river flows and is ranked the fifth most vulnerable country to some key effects of climate change. There is a continued damage to the date palms. The land that has fed a nation, provided shelter and dwellings is drying up fast.