aja Hamid Rashid

Iraq_Engineer Dunya Al-Shamma embodies a living image of the Iraqi woman and stands as a prominent example of determination and creativity.Despite challenges and circumstances, she has been able to prove her presence in various fields of life, turning difficulties into opportunities for success and distinction.

She did not surrender to reality but rediscovered herself at every stage of her life. After a professional career in the field of petroleum engineering, Dunya Al-Shamma chose to return to her old passion for painting and music, affirming that ambition isn’t tied to age and that creativity can be reborn whenever willpower exists.

From engineering to art…. A journey of postponed passion

After intirement, engineer Dunya Al-Shamma, who worked in petroleum engineering and has a talent for painting, devoted herself to developing this talent and practicing her favourite hobby since childhood. She says, “After my retirement, I try to invest my time in what is beneficial  and develop my talent in painting and music,” noting that her beginnings in the field of study were due to her family’s choice for her to study engineering_a choice she didn’t oppose due to her interest in mathematics and engineering. She continued  her studies and achieved success in her professional career while using her vacations to attend painting and music courses.

She points out that the 1970s witnessed widespread interest in culture and the arts, as art courses in painting, sculpture, and music were offered for free through institutions of the Ministry of Culture and Information, in addition to other courses she enrolled in at specialized institutions.

She explains that her artistic career stopped after marriage due to family responsibilities and work duties, before she returned to it again in 2018 after her retirement, saying, "I found nothing better than painting to invest my free time."

Painting is a psychological refuge and elevates taste and morals

Dunya Al-Shamma affirms that painting remains her indispensable companion in the most difficult circumstances. "Even when I am tired or sick, practicing painting gives me healing and psychological comfort." She adds that she has been influenced by several international artists such as Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci, while locally she was influenced by her art trainers at the academy where she received specialized courses and lessons in painting.

Regarding the importance of art in society, she explained that art elevates taste and morals because of its direct impact on the artist's psyche, helping them to review themselves, discover their mistakes, and work to correct them. It also enhances the values of cooperation and positive interaction with others, especially during academic study.

She cites her personal experience in this field, saying that during her visit to orphanages, she asked those in charge to allow her to teach children painting one day a week, with the aim of integrating them into society and refining their personalities, in addition to training children with Down syndrome. She notes that the experience was successful and achieved positive interaction, as many of them showed a clear artistic talent in painting.

Family support is the cornerstone

Dunya Al-Shamma affirmed that family support represents the foundation for building generations, as it contributes to instilling values and behaviors from childhood. She noted that women are capable of successfully balancing home responsibilities and work simultaneously. She also sees that women are the foundation of society, considering that the mother is the primary pillar of upbringing and character building.

She adds that her family was the foundation for overcoming challenges, as her husband was her primary supporter, followed by her daughter who supported her out of loyalty and gratitude. She stressed the importance of time management and allocating space for self-development through reading and learning, saying, "The book is the best companion."

"There is no specific age for achieving ambitions"

The most prominent challenge she faced was learning musical notation, despite undergoing several music courses that were not sufficient to master it properly. She pointed out that taking lessons at the academy was beneficial, as it enabled her to learn musical notation and attempt to play, affirming that it was a personal challenge she took on with great determination, saying, "I was determined to learn music and play."

Dunya Al-Shamma believes that there is no specific age for achieving ambitions. She calls for seizing opportunities and not allowing work or responsibilities to be an obstacle to living life and developing oneself, adding that self-confidence, the ability to confront, and determination are the keys to success.

She pointed out that after forty-three years, she returned to learning painting and music, overcoming the challenges and excuses related to fatigue or responsibilities.

Regarding her future plans, she says she seeks to develop her painting skills and transform it from copying images to works originating from her imagination, in addition to her desire to participate in art exhibitions to learn about others' opinions and benefit from constructive criticism. She also aspires to transfer her painting experience to orphans and marginalized groups, in cooperation with specialized entities, in order to spread benefit on a wider scale.

Dunya Al-Shamma concludes her speech by affirming the importance of women supporting women, stressing that this support should be sincere and constructive, based on encouragement and respect, far from belittling others' abilities or discouraging them, but rather in a positive and decent manner that helps achieve ambitions.