Alaa Abdel Karim draws the line between the scalpel and the feather
An innovator who turns her passion into an element of support
Baghdad – time
In a space where scientific accuracy intersects with the creative sense, Alaa Abdel Karim’s experience stands out as one of the young models who succeeded in combining two paths that seem at first glance to be far apart: dentistry and fine art. However, Alaa sees this intersection as a source of strength, not a contradiction, as each field gives her something that complements the other and enhances her presence in it.
Alaa confirms her ability to reconcile her medical studies with her passion for drawing, considering that this balance did not come by chance, but rather as a result of awareness of the importance of every aspect in her life. Study, she says, gives her discipline and knowledge, while drawing provides her with a space for expression and psychological comfort, which creates a state of internal harmony that helps her continue on both paths without one overshadowing the other.
The impact of art was not limited to the psychological aspect only, but also extended to include the development of her professional skills. Alaa points out that her practice of drawing has clearly contributed to enhancing the accuracy of her hand and increasing her concentration, which are essential skills in dentistry, especially in work that requires high control and great stability. This intersection between art and science made her look at her specialty from a different angle, closer to being a precise art that is not devoid of an aesthetic sense.
Artistic identity
Regarding her artistic identity, Alaa leans towards fine art, because it gives her wide freedom of expression without restrictions. She explains that her paintings are often a reflection of her psychological state and her experience as a student, where her feelings blend with the details of her daily life, with its challenges and ambitions. This spontaneity in expression gives her works an honest, human character that touches the recipient.
Alaa sees drawing as an effective way to relieve the pressures of medical study, which are intense and challenging. For her, “art constitutes a space of calm and contemplation, through which she can relieve mental tension and regain her balance, which reflects positively on her academic performance and gives her renewed energy to continue.”
She does not hide her ambition to integrate art with her specialty in the future, especially in fields such as smile design and cosmetic work, as she believes that (dentistry is not based on technical skill only, but rather requires artistic taste and a high aesthetic sense). This ambition reflects her vision of her specialty as a mixture between science and art, which does not separate them but rather unites them.
As for her drawings, Alaa seeks honesty before idealism, stressing that “reality is not always beautiful or tidy.” She draws to express feelings that may be difficult to express in words, such as anxiety, pressure, or hesitation. These are human conditions that she experiences as a student in a precise scientific field. This honesty gives her works a special depth, and makes them closer to an open, personal experience shared by others.
With this approach, Alaa Abdel Karim presents a different example of a medical student who did not abandon her passion, but rather turned it into a supporting element for her career, on a journey that proves that creativity can be part of the most rigorous specializations.
