early life and artistic beginnings laila al shawa, a prominent palestinian visual artist, was born in 1940 in gaza city. her father, rashad al-shawa, an activist and former mayor of gaza city, instilled in her a strong sense of political awareness from a young age. this foundation would later influence her artistic style, which often reflected the politics of her country and the injustices she witnessed. artistic style and techniques al shawa's artwork, encompassing paintings, sculptures, and installations, frequently incorporated photographs as the base for silkscreen printing. this unique a…