Hadeer Omar, an Egyptian artist, blends Arab traditions with modern technologies through her new media art, spanning film, photography, design, installations, and interactive experiences. Her practice delves into identity and memory, pushing the boundaries of art with immersive environments and virtual reality. A teacher and international collaborator, she reimagines digital art as a powerful tool for groundbreaking visual storytelling.

Two Careers, Two Worlds, One Vision

Hadeer Omar, Installation "Altkoot Fort", 2021

« I’m building my own parallel universe, where everyone is accepted. »

— Hadeer Omar

Born in 1988 in Alexandria, Egypt, Hadeer Omar juggles two careers. On one side, she shines in digital art, where her works blend immersive technology, photography, and installations. On the other, she shares her knowledge with the next generation as an assistant professor at VCUarts in Qatar, teaching storytelling and time-based media. “The power of storytelling is infinite; there are no limits when you integrate technology,” she explains.

Hadeer Omar, “Illuminating Facades”, Riyadh, 2024

Hadeer Omar, Photographie IA, "Journal by Liwan", 2022

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Her dual career takes on a compelling depth in Doha, where she is an integral force in the local art scene. In 2019, she co-chairs the influential Tasmeem Doha Art and Design conference, a key platform for creatives across the MENA region. Between 2019 and 2021, she calls the Doha Fire Station home, using it as the birthplace for Fragmented Realities, an audiovisual installation that explores the fractured identities within our increasingly globalized world. Through her work, Hadeer Omar reimagines digital art as a medium not just of innovation, but as an intimate, culturally resonant expression embedded in the very fabric of daily life.

Hadeer Omar, Installation “*Fragmented Realities 0.2”*, Qatar, 2024

Hadeer Omar, " Fragmented Realities", 2020

A Global Vision, Deep Roots

Hadeer Omar doesn’t just rethink artistic boundaries; she also conquers major international stages. In 2022, she directed the music videos for Light the Sky and Ezz Alarab for the FIFA World Cup, leaving her mark on one of the world’s most-watched events. A 2023 collaboration with the Tasweer Photo Festival in Doha for And Thereafter showcases her ability to blend visual storytelling with technical innovation.

Photography: "Faces I Met"

Photographs by Hadeer Omar, " Faces I met"

Photographie par Hadeer Omar, " Faces I met" (copie)

Awarded for "3 Arabizi Keyboard"

One of her most notable projects, 3arabizi Keyboard, was recognized by the European Commission with an honorable mention at the STARTS Prize by Ars Electronica in 2017. In this work, she highlights the 3arabizi system—a way of communicating using Latin letters and numbers to represent phonetic Arabic in instant messaging. “It’s a language born out of necessity, an inventive response to a technological problem,” she comments. The work advocates for an inclusive vision of technology, one that can support cultural diversity.

A Boldly Futuristic Vision of Digital Art

Hadeer Omar's XR practice extends to 360-degree cinema with her short film Gihan, developed at the Documentary Lab of the Doha Film Institute, directed by Rithy Panh, between 2022 and 2023. Her pursuit of performance has led her to collaborate with musicians and sound artists on several projects, including an A/V performance at the Shubbak Festival in the UK, as well as installations like Sonic Jeel Performance and It’s Everywhere around the world.

Hadeer Omar, Installation “*It’s Everywhere”*, 2022

Hadeer Omar, excerpt from her film "Gihan", 2023

In 2023, Hadeer collaborated with Sonic Jeel and Katia Kolovea on And Thereafter, a commission that activated the heritage site of Alkoot Fort for the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival.

Hadeer Omar, Projection “Mapping from the Rooftop”, Alexandria, Egypt, 2022

The students in this course use video as their primary tool while exploring themes such as transience, duration, and the possibilities of moving images. The Simulated Fashion project allowed them to discover virtual reality storytelling, acquire cinematic techniques tailored to 360-degree environments, and work collaboratively. This project also challenged students to engage with performance and fashion cinema. The final film showcases the collections of fashion design students from VCUarts in Qatar.

Behind her practice, Hadeer Omar holds a clear vision for the future of digital art in the region. She envisions a greater openness to experimentation, where local artists can engage freely with the world without conforming to international standards. "We must cultivate curiosity and experimentation," she asserts. For her, digital art should be a constant field of exploration, a space where boundaries are continually redefined. She sees technology as a tool to amplify the voices of minorities, empower local cultures, and provide a platform for forgotten narratives.

Hadeer Omar, IA art “ *Egypt from A memory*”

Alongside her projects, Hadeer Omar advises young creators not to set boundaries: "Passion is what drives evolution, but you must also seize opportunities without waiting for everything to be perfect." Her career is a living testament to the fact that art is a field of experimentation, an ongoing adventure that constantly reinvents itself, always more fluid and deeply rooted in the present.