Much of Hanaa Malallah’s work recounts the ‘chaos of war’ that she experienced first-hand growing up in Iraq. She explores a search for identity in the aftermath of war as well as the destruction of cultural materials and the forced isolation of artists.

In the 1970s, Malallah developed a technique which she defined as the ‘ruins technique’, whereby she incorporates raw materials including elements of war-ravaged Iraq, into her work. Burnt paper, torn cloth, barbed wire, splintered wood and bullets are examples of pieces of ‘matter’ that feature regularly.

“This technique refers both to ancient and contemporary Iraq. On the one hand, it relates to the damage that objects undergo when they are destroyed – something that I am familiar with, having seen destruction of buildings, objects and relics up close. On the other hand, the Ruins Technique allows me a unique way to express my sensitive reading of shape and colour which I gained from my studies and writings on Ancient Mesopotamia… With this method I am not creating an image of ruins, but I am re-creating the process by which a material becomes a ruin”- Malallah