DUBAI: The Lebanese illustrator discusses her latest digital drawing, which pays tribute to Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed in Jenin earlier this month. ad For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle When I heard the news of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, I was in Portugal with my parents on a three-day vacation. I saw a couple of posts on social media, but it wasn’t very clear what was happening, so I went on Google Search and read a couple of very short reports, as the news was breaking. I went back on social media and my Palestinian friends were posting more and more about it. It was actually very shocking. I felt like I had to go back to the hotel and draw a tribute to her. Seeing her on the floor was really intense and I was deeply disturbed for a while. It took me some time to process what was happening. I feel like she’s done so much for everyone; the way she’s been reporting for so many years and has been a voice for the people — risking her life almost every day. ‘Honoring Shireen.’ (Supplied) ad Illustration is how I can communicate my thoughts and feelings more clearly. Most of my work is digital illustrations and I use an iPad. My fingers were moving so fast, almost in rage, but I had to stop myself and give a softer emotion to it. I had to pour out appreciation and admiration of who she was. I wanted that to translate into the piece, rather than it being an angry piece. She was a very soft and kind person and I think that contributes to the halo around her head. At first, I wanted the flowers to be colorful, but then I wanted them to be kind of muted out and be white and very peaceful. She had an angelic face and was graceful till the end and I wanted that to be highlighted in the illustration. She was wearing a press vest when she got shot and part of me wanted to remind people not just about the job that she carried out until her last breath, but also that she was wronged and that hurt a lot people. The white, blank eyes may be disturbing to others, but to me they’re calming. It’s to remind people that, yes, there’s a human being behind that person, but there’s also a soul. Topics: NOURIE FLAYHAN SHIREEN ABU AKLEH Where We are Going Today: Sentio Cafe Where We are Going Today: Sentio Cafe Updated 20 May 2022 RAHAF JAMBI May 20, 2022 00:21 277 Looking for a new cafe to hang out with friends or enjoy a quick coffee? Sentio is a great place to consider. Whether you like your beverage hot or cold, this central Riyadh cafe has something for all coffee lovers. Sentio Cafe opened a year ago, and offers a variety of drip coffees, V60, cold brewed, Chemex, lattes and more. For the office or for gatherings, it also offers a takeaway coffee jug of any variety of coffee that can fill more than six cups. French toast is a favorite, alongside delicious, freshly made sweets, such as cookies, brownies, milk cakes, and homemade vanilla and mango ice cream. The 24-hour cafe also serves halloumi, labneh and zaatar, and hot tuna sandwiches. Its signature hot chocolate was especially popular during Riyadh Season. For hot sunny days, the cafe offers homemade passion fruit mojito and pomegranate mojito, or the original classic mojito. The cafe has a welcoming space with a floral design featuring pastel colors, and outdoor and indoor dining tables. Saudi Arabia’s food and beverage market has witnessed considerable growth since the launch of the Vision 2030 program, with a growing number of mobile delivery applications, food trucks, and international and local cafes in cities such as Jeddah and Riyadh. With a population of almost 35 million, the Kingdom is attracting international and local companies to the sector. For more information, visit Sentio’s Instagram account @sentio_sa.