As the year 2024 draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the artists who the artists who have created some interesting works. Among them is Randa Hijazi, a Syrian-Canadian painter based in Laval, Quebec. Hijazi’s artistic journey has been shaped by her experiences in Damascus, Dubai, and Canada, with each chapter influencing her perspective and craft. She earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of Damascus in 2000 and later pursued Mass Communication and Media Science, graduating in 2008. This blend of art and media education honed her ability to tell stories that resonate on both emotional and intellectual levels.
Since relocating to Canada in 2017, Hijazi has explored universal themes of love, connection, and vulnerability in her work. Her Threads of Humanity series, a surreal and introspective collection, captures the delicate balance between unity and disconnection, harmony and tension.
Randa Hijazi’s Threads of Humanity series dives into the complexity of human relationships, presenting her subjects with a mix of organic forms and geometric structures. Using pencil on paper, she weaves surreal compositions that reflect the fluidity and fragility of emotional bonds. Her recurring motifs—eyes, hands, and threads—symbolize the connections we make, whether visible or invisible, tender or fraught. Through intricate shading and delicate textures, her art evokes life, inviting viewers to reflect on shared experiences of love, betrayal, unity, and alienation.
Each piece in the series feels alive, as if the emotions and connections she depicts are ready to leap off the canvas. Her work transcends borders, speaking to universal truths about human behavior and the unseen ties that bind us.
In Anticipation, Hijazi presents a dense gathering of figures, all rendered in muted beige tones. The 170 x 140 cm mixed media piece captures a crowd frozen in a moment of quiet expectancy. Their postures and expressions range from contemplative to uncertain, evoking a shared sense of waiting. With no background to distract, the focus remains on the figures themselves, emphasizing their collective humanity.
Though unified by color, the individuals are distinct in their gestures—some gaze upward as if searching for answers, while others look forward or toward one another. This subtle interplay of sameness and individuality reflects the tension between unity and isolation. Anticipation serves as a poignant meditation on global experiences of uncertainty, highlighting how we are often united in moments of collective hope and unease.
Another mixed media work of the same size, Express Yourself as You Wish, explores themes of individuality and interdependence. The painting features two groups of figures positioned on either side of the canvas, each expressing themselves through varied postures and gestures. While the figures are painted in the same beige tones as Anticipation,they are linked by thin red threads that stretch across the blank canvas.
These threads, delicate yet strong, symbolize the connections that unite people despite their differences. The empty background places all attention on the figures and their relationships, underscoring the idea that diversity is not a source of division but of strength. Hijazi’s use of red threads conveys the vibrancy of shared human experiences and the invisible bonds that tie us together, even when we express ourselves in unique ways.
Randa Hijazi’s art goes beyond visual storytelling. Her Threads of Humanity collection invites viewers to consider the complexities of relationships—how they form, evolve, and sometimes unravel. Through her work, Hijazi captures the universal emotions that define our shared existence: love, vulnerability, connection, and the tension between togetherness and isolation.
Anticipation draws attention to the collective experience of waiting, while Express Yourself as You Wish celebrates individuality and unity. Together, these pieces reflect the intricate dance of human relationships, where diversity and connection coexist.
As we close out 2024, Hijazi’s work stands as a reminder of the threads that bind us all. Her art encourages quiet reflection, urging viewers to look beyond the surface and consider the unseen forces shaping our interactions. It’s not just about capturing the human condition—it’s about understanding the delicate, invisible threads that hold us together.
