Growth through grief: Meet the bereaved finding creative inspiration from their loss

Grief is often viewed as a deeply personal and isolating experience but sometimes it can also serve another purpose. For some, it becomes a means of processing pain and healing. For others, it can be a source of inspiration.

Whether it is producing art or designing clothing, creativity can come out in different ways when dealing with heartache.

“Grief is not just about loss – it’s about transformation,” explains Dr Salman Kareem, specialist psychiatry at Aster Clinic in Dubai. “Through creativity, we can turn pain into a powerful force for growth.”

It can also influence focus and imagination, he says, adding that while stress hormones and being emotionally overwhelmed often impair concentration, heightened emotional sensitivity can actually enhance imaginative capacity.

“Engaging in creative expression provides a therapeutic release, allowing people to process pain and find meaning in their experiences,” adds Dr Kareem.

Turning heartbreak into advocacy through art

Omar Hindash, 39, is a trainer and coach in Dubai who knows about resiliency. Born to a Palestinian father and a Croatian mother, he grew up away from Palestine but deeply connected to its struggles.

The Israel-Gaza War pushed Hindash to channel his emotions into something tangible. In November 2023, he launched Batch 13 Designs, an art and apparel brand that uses Palestinian symbols to spark conversation and raise awareness. His first creation, the Watermelon Flag, subtly infused the colours of the Palestinian flag into a digital design.

“I imagine my daughter asking me years from now, ‘What did you do during the genocide of the Palestinian people?’” he says. “That question drives me. This feels like the bare minimum I can do.”

Though new to digital art, Hindash taught himself how to bring his designs to life. “Every late night spent learning and fixing mistakes felt worth it because I knew I was contributing to something bigger than myself,” he explains.

For Hindash, his brand is more than just a creative outlet. It’s a bridge between grief and resilience. “Each piece I design is a way of telling our story to the world,” he says. “Through creativity, I’ve found a way to reclaim power in the face of helplessness.”

In addition to raising awareness, Omar donates 10 per cent of the profits from Batch 13 Designs to Palestine, ensuring his efforts directly support its people.

The Heartist who turned loss into universal symbols

Khawla Darwish, 38, has a similar tale. The head of artistic, cultural and literary skills department at the UAE’s Ministry of Education is also an artist known as The Heartist because her works include a symbol or reference to the heart.

While pursuing her studies in art and early childhood education at Zayed University, Darwish experienced the devastating loss of her younger brother Rashid, who died at 17 from a hereditary heart condition. “Without realising it, I started drawing hearts in all my assignments,” Darwish recalls. “It was my subconscious way of coping.”

Her professor noticed the recurring motif and encouraged her to transform it into a series, which she later called In Memory of Rashid. It gained international recognition at the Venice Biennale in 2008, marking the UAE’s first pavilion at the prestigious event. “It was an emotional moment,” she says. “The heart, which had become a symbol of my grief, resonated with people from all walks of life.”

Two years later, Darwish faced another profound loss when her father died from the same condition. She channelled her pain into advocacy, using art to raise awareness about hereditary heart conditions.

“Art became my therapy, my way of making sense of what had happened and ensuring others could learn from our story,” she says.

These days she continues advocating for heart health awareness while also paying tribute to her loved ones through her art. She hopes others also realise that they can create something from their grief. “Take back your power,” she says. “Turn your pain into something meaningful that can touch the lives of others.”

Sculpting Lebanon’s resilience from ruins

Lebanese artist Charbel Aoun also understands the heavy heartache. He has witnessed cycles of destruction and reconstruction that have shaped his country, whether it's the Civil War or the Beirut Port explosion in 2020.

“The Lebanese people have experienced in one lifetime what others face in three,” he says. “But grief creates opportunities. It’s like the decomposition in nature that allows new life to grow.”

After the explosion – three people that he knew died – Aoun turned debris from the wreckage into installations that symbolised renewal. It involved breaking rubble into soil and planting aloe, creating a medicinal space out of destruction. “It was my way of turning despair into something meaningful,” he explains.

Aoun uses materials such as stone and wood to create installations, sketches or sculptures to channel his grief but also to signal the possibility of hope. “Art isn’t just visual – it’s alive,” he says. “Each piece carries the weight of emotions and the potential for transformation.”

Despite Lebanon’s continuing crises, Aoun continues to create, seeing his work as an outlet. “I want my art to remind people that even in tragedy, there is potential for growth,” he says. “Grief doesn’t have to break us – it can transform us.”

Brewing legacy in every cup

For Fatma Al Moosawi, tea is more than just a beverage – it’s a family legacy that began in 1961 with her grandfather, who blended unique flavours of tea leaves. His passion was carried forward by Al Moosawi's father, who elevated the tradition with a special blend combining nine varieties from around the world.

But when her father died in 2015, Al Moosawi found herself overwhelmed with grief. Depression and academic challenges took their toll and she often dreamt of her father, feeling a deep loss but also growing a determination to honour his memory. “I was lost,” she says. “But every time I made tea, it felt like he was still with me. It became my way of holding on to him.”

In 2017, she launched Ygnd El Ras, the UAE’s first Emirati tea brand. “I wanted to do something that would make him proud, something that would carry his legacy forward,” she says.

As the UAE’s first accredited Tea Master by the International Tea Masters Association, Al Moosawi has also introduced sustainable practices into her business. She researches ways to use tea waste to purify water, create natural compost and support zero-waste initiatives.

“It’s about combining tradition with innovation,” she explains. “Every blend I create carries a story of the past while contributing to a sustainable future.

“Turning my grief into something meaningful felt like fulfilling his dream for me. Every cup of tea I sell is a tribute to his memory and to the legacy he and my grandfather built.”

The psychology of grief

Grief has a profound impact on creativity, shaping it into a powerful tool for growth and healing, says Dr Kareem.

“This duality can either stifle or fuel creativity, depending on an individual’s coping mechanisms and emotional resilience,” he adds. “Individuals with pre-existing creative outlets are more likely to channel their grief constructively.”

For those experiencing grief-induced creative blocks, Dr Kareem suggests starting small, maintaining a routine and exploring therapeutic approaches like art or music therapy.

“Grief reshapes perspectives, often bringing more depth and authenticity to creative work,” he. “It’s about finding a way to honour loss while forging a path forward.”