My art practice is deeply connected to poetry, music, mythology, ecology, and philosophy. I work across a range of media, including sculpture, ceramics, paper, glass, and canvas. I also create short children’s stories, sound works, and film. I am known for creating watercolour landscapes from a kayak, surrounded by mangroves, where the sights, sounds, and scents of the environment become an integral part of my creative process. I often incorporate fragments and found materials into my paintings to personalise the spiritual qualities expressed through colour. I also integrate recorded field sounds into my artworks, creating immersive experiences that connect audiences with the natural world.

Through my work, I explore mangroves as a way of raising awareness of both the destruction of my homeland, Syria, and broader environmental concerns. For me, there is a profound connection between conflict, displacement, and unsustainable development. In an era of climate change, mangroves still do not receive the recognition they deserve, either for their remarkable beauty or their vital ecological importance. I have found mangroves to be a source of strength, beauty, energy, and simplicity. Through my artworks and the Mangroves from the Water(MFTW) exhibitions that I curate, I hope to contribute to protecting our shared planet while promoting peace, compassion, and respect for nature.

I believe that MFTW is at its strongest as a collaborative exhibition, bringing together artists working across diverse media to create immersive experiences that connect audiences with nature. By fostering a shared space for artistic dialogue, the project celebrates both creativity and environmental awareness. As Simon O’Sullivan writes, what becomes important is what an artwork can do. The value of an artwork lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its capacity to make the imperceptible perceptible, inspiring reflection, dialogue, and action.

The MFTW exhibitions moved from the United Arab Emirates to Australia when I relocated in 2017. The project expanded through community engagement, including the production and presentation of a weekly bilingual (Arabic and English) radio programme on Geelong Community Radio 94.7 The Pulse between 2018 and 2020.

During this period, I:

• Produced and presented a weekly bilingual (Arabic and English) radio programme exploring art, storytelling, culture, and the environment.
• Developed programme content, conducted interviews with artists and community leaders, and managed all aspects of production and broadcasting.
• Fostered intercultural dialogue by introducing Arabic stories, music, and cultural traditions to Australian audiences through scriptwriting, audio production, and community engagement.

To listen to selected recordings, please visit this page: Radio Show – ZAHIDAH ZEYTOUN MILLIE

On 14 August 2021, I participated as both an artist and curator of the Mangroves from the Water exhibition at Gordon Gallery, Geelong. The exhibition brought together Indigenous, non-Indigenous, and international artists, with the support of community organisations across the Geelong region, the City of Greater Geelong, and in collaboration with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

The exhibition catalogue was authored by me and designed by the artist Geraldine Chansard. Please view the catalogue here: mangroves-from-the-water-exhibition-catalogue-gordon-gallery-aug-21.pdf

I had the privilege of participating in the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, where I exhibited selected works from the Mangroves from the Water exhibition. For more information, please visit this page:

Travel Fieldwork Presentation – Mangroves from the Water (MFTW)

Please see the following link to view our second group exhibition in the Geelong region, presented with support from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Mangroves from the Water:

Mangroves from the Water: Our Recent Exhibition – Mangroves from the Water (MFTW)

To learn more about my artworks, please visit: www.zahidahart.com

To read about my PhD research, Mangroves from the Water, please visit:

Mangroves from the Water Research Project – Mangroves from the Water (MFTW)

Dr Zahidah Zeytoun Millie
Artist, Researcher and Curator

All images and articles on this blog are © Zahidah Zelda Zeytoun Millie except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved.