Randa Hijazi, a Syrian-Canadian painter based in Laval, Quebec, weaves her life experiences into her art. Born in Damascus, she earned her Fine Arts degree in 2000 at the University of Damascus. Her passion for storytelling led her to further studies in Mass Communication and Media Science, where she graduated in 2008. This unique blend of artistic training and media expertise informs her perspective, merging the keen observational skills of a journalist with the emotional resonance of a painter. Having lived in Damascus, Dubai, and now Canada since 2017, Hijazi draws inspiration from the cultural transitions that have shaped her. Her work delves into universal themes of connection, love, and vulnerability while confronting darker human tendencies like manipulation and betrayal, explored in her surreal Threads of Humanity series.
The Threads of Humanity series uses pencil on paper to examine the subtle dynamics of human relationships. Hijazi’s surreal imagery combines flowing organic forms with structured geometric shapes, capturing the fluid and sometimes conflicting nature of emotional connections. Her symbolic use of eyes, hands, and intertwining threads reveals how people affect one another in visible and invisible ways. The intricate detail in her shading and texture brings these images to life, encouraging viewers to explore themes of unity, disconnection, tenderness, and tension.
This collection is more than visual storytelling; it’s an invitation to meditate on the emotional threads that bind us. Hijazi’s work resonates with universal truths, drawing attention to the invisible forces shaping human interactions.
In Anticipation, a mixed media canvas measuring 170 x 140 cm, Hijazi presents a dense crowd of figures rendered in monochromatic beige tones. The people appear unified in color yet diverse in posture and expression. Some gaze upward, others look ahead, while a few share glances, each immersed in their thoughts. The absence of a background leaves the viewer focused entirely on the figures, emphasizing their shared humanity.
This crowd exists in a state of stillness, caught in a collective moment of waiting. Their postures suggest a mix of contemplation, unease, and hope, evoking a sense of universal anticipation. Despite the uniform palette, Hijazi uses subtle details—tilts of heads, the placement of hands—to convey individuality within the collective. The piece is a poignant reflection of shared global experiences, where people across cultures and geographies find themselves united by uncertainty and hope.
Express Yourself as You Wish, another mixed media piece of the same dimensions, depicts two groups of figures on opposite sides of the canvas. Like in Anticipation, the figures are painted in beige tones, but here, they face each other in a dialogue of harmony and diversity. The figures’ postures and movements are varied, celebrating individuality while maintaining a sense of unity.
Connecting the two groups are thin red threads that stretch across the blank canvas, forming delicate yet vital bridges. These threads symbolize the invisible ties of shared experience, mutual understanding, and human connection. The figures seem to communicate through these threads, suggesting that our differences do not divide us but strengthen the fabric of our shared humanity.
The empty background heightens the focus on the figures and threads, underscoring the painting’s message: that freedom of self-expression is intertwined with the connections we form with others. Hijazi invites the viewer to reflect on how diversity and individuality can coexist within a broader sense of unity.
Randa Hijazi’s Threads of Humanity draws viewers into a surreal exploration of the human condition. Her intricate compositions and symbolic motifs speak to the complexity of relationships—how they flow, evolve, and sometimes fracture. By blending personal insights with universal themes, she creates works that resonate across cultural and emotional boundaries.
Through Anticipation, she highlights shared moments of waiting and reflection, showing how humanity is often united by its collective experiences. With Express Yourself as You Wish, Hijazi celebrates diversity, emphasizing the beauty of human connections despite differences.
Hijazi’s art is a quiet, reflective space where viewers can ponder love, vulnerability, and the unseen forces that shape relationships. Her work isn’t just about portraying humanity—it’s about understanding the delicate threads that tie us together.
