Words of Resilience

Join us for an afternoon celebrating poetry with the poets featured in A Way Through: Archive of Resilience. The poetry reading will be followed by an open mic.

Highlights of the event include:

Interactive Typewriter Poetry Station: Hosted by exhibition participant Hessa M. Aldahel, where you can share a special memory or moment and have it transformed into a personalized typed poem on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Pre-Loved Book Sale: Explore a selection of secondhand books and take home your next great read, with all books priced at AED 30 or less.

Featured Poets:

Hesa M. Aldahel is a poet, book artist and entrepreneur. She was a featured poet at Emirates Literature Foundation at Sikka and Community Night as well as in the Rumi poetry night 2024 at House of Wisdom, Sharjah. She has collaborated with Sharjah Art Foundation, House of Wisdom, NYUAD and Kutubna Cultural Center as a teaching artist. In 2023, she moderated sessions at Emirates Literature festival and watch week for Bulgari. In 2022, she was a moderator at Abu Dhabi book fair. She has been published in an anthology called “Fields of Poetry” by Sail Publishing. She also published her first poetry book "Ghazal: Share".

Shaima Ali AlQassab is a writer, coach, and researcher whose work moves between narrative and reflection. She writes poetry and fiction exploring memory and identity and is currently developing her first historical fiction novel, exploring themes of memory and culture in the Gulf. Shaima continues her writing practice through The Open Question, a growing publication of poems and reflections. Alongside her creative work, Shaima is a Certified Co-Active Coach. She holds a Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

Sana Waqar Khan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dubai, with over ten years of experience spanning textiles, fashion, and visual arts. She holds an MA in Art and Design Studies from Beaconhouse National University and was shortlisted for The Art Circle Award in 2024 and 2025. Her work has been exhibited internationally in Pakistan, the UAE, Iran, and Venice, including at World Art Dubai, Warehouse421, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, and SIKKA Art & Design Festival 2026. Her practice explores abstraction, mapping, and data visualisation through traditional and digital media. Alongside her artistic practice, she collaborates with leading cultural institutions, including Art Dubai and Jameel Arts Centre, designs and facilitates interactive workshops and learning programmes informed by her MoMA specialisation in 'Teaching with Art'.

Tessy Koshy is an independent journalist and editor of Middle East Masala, an online art and culture publication. An avid reader, she is also the creator of Power of Pages Book Club in Dubai, helping readers to heal and grow through the wisdom of motivational books.