Cancer may have interrupted her life, but it has not stopped Bahraini artist Dayanna Al Shaikh from pursuing her creative goals. 
The painter and photographer has unveiled her latest work A Landscape of Hope which brings her health journey and enduring optimism to life using old medical reports, tablet strip packs and hospital tags.
“This artwork represents my journey with cancer,” the mother-of-two told GulfWeekly. 
“The materials I have used hold memories of the last 14 years, which have been a difficult time,” she added. 
The Riffa resident was first diagnosed with breast cancer – a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours – 14 years ago and again in 2019. Over the years, she has bravely fought various forms of the disease and is now undergoing treatment for a fifth time, while maintaining a positive outlook.
“The tablet-covered path symbolises my challenging treatment journey, eventually growing into flowers, transforming symbols of pain into those of healing, growth and hope. The green trees represent life, strength and renewal and are partly made from my hospital tags and the blue sky is created from my cancer reports. It reflects the fear and uncertainty I faced, while also symbolising peace, freedom and brighter days ahead,” she explained. 
A Landscape of Hope follows two other artworks exploring similar themes previously created by the artist, who has been collecting tags and documents, including boarding passes from her past travels to Germany for treatment. Even at the time, she knew she would eventually incorporate them into her art.
The 56-year-old has always enjoyed creative pursuits, which have helped her navigate her arduous journey. 
“I do it whenever I have the time in between my chemotherapy sessions and when I feel well. Hobbies have a way of lifting our spirits,” she noted, adding that spending time with her family and friends, as well as doing charity work, has also helped her immensely. 
Further elaborating on her positive outlook, the artist revealed that there are times when she even talks to her cancer.
“It’s something my doctor in Germany taught me. When the cancer is aggressive, I tell it to calm down – ‘you can stay where you are but don’t hurt me’, I say. Cancer is now a friend,” she remarked. 
Dayanna recounted how staying positive was also a decision she made for the sake of her children.
“It’s a lesson that no matter how hard the situation, be it an exam or something at work, it can be dealt with if one has the right attitude,” she said. 
Looking back, she believes that the illness has transformed her, making her more patient and hopeful.
The artist is already making plans for the future and hopes to experiment new artistic mediums in the New Year. 
“Presently, I work with coffee and chocolate but it will be nice to explore newer styles,” she said. 
An ardent supporter of the arts and a champion of cancer awareness, Dayanna has previously staged several events for the cause, including successful fundraisers. Among them was Letters of Hope – a collection of 42 paintings that sold out within a few hours. The proceeds were donated to help children with cancer, nodding to her determination not only to battle the disease herself but also to inspire others facing it.
“If God has willed for me to face this journey, He is also expecting me to be strong as I face it,” she added.