DNA

A Palestinian visual artist currently based in Sweden. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art from Al-Aqsa University in Gaza in 2009. Since then, Nateel has engaged in significant artistic research and exhibited her work in various venues. Her early artworks, such as “Memory’s Salt” (2011) and “The Impact of Light and Glass” (2013), were inspired by her lived experiences and aimed to reflect individual narratives within broader societal contexts. After 2014, her focus shifted to exploring humanity amid political challenges. In her installation “If I Was Not There” (2014), she gave voice to children silenced by conflict, advocating for those who have lost their voices in war.

This theme continued in “Without Coffins,” which was shortlisted for the YAYA award in 2014, and “The Dream is Possible,” created for the same competition in 2016. Between 2017 and 2019, she developed the “Lane” project, which envisions an imaginary corridor symbolizing the struggle of feeling trapped between borders and the yearning for freedom. Her most recent project, “Studying the Voids of Amputation” (2020-2021), connects physical and geographical amputation, further exploring the intricacies of loss. Nateel’s paintings serve as profound visual translations of loss and trauma drawing parallels between the loss of limbs and the loss of land.

In Nateel's art, the effects of amputation are felt deeply by the viewer. Nateel recently completed a 16-month residency at the Sommerakademie Paul Klee, hosted by the Bern Academy of the Arts (HKB). Her work continues to resonate with themes of resilience, identity, and the impact of conflict on individuals and communities.