VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
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vjumamel.bsky.social
VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
@vjumamel.bsky.social
Socially conscious cyborg with a data body. Digital artist, author, programmer, and associate professor at UC Santa Barbara
https://vjumamel.com
This early video installation, "Inverted Revolution" (2006), was born from a poem I wrote and recorded.

The live-recorded remix weaves in the voice of Prof. Lila Abu-Lughod (courtesy of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown Univ, 2008).

#Poetry #DigitalArt #ArabFuturism #rotoscope
November 11, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Eighteen years ago, I stepped into my cyborg self, VJ Um Amel, for the first time. This early video installation marked the beginning of a journey through archives, bodies, and machines.

🎥 Intro to Arab, Mother, Cyborg: Digital Performance (v1)
#DigitalArt #CyborgPerformance #ArabFuturism
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Just dropped a clip from my upcoming project, From the Cyborg’s Desk — part historical fiction, part speculative futures.

I reconstructed the Capitol in 3D using millions of Jan 6 social media images, then glitched the model.

Features lyrics from Land of the Freefall

#GlitchArt #DigitalFutures
August 8, 2025 at 12:12 AM
As my year-long sabbatical of research and recovery (R&R) comes to a close, I'm grateful to have been able to dedicate time to my health, fitness, and strength.

As of July 1, I return from sabbatical as Director of Graduate Studies. And so with strength, humor, and a calm mind, we go forth.
July 2, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Dropping some new and old here.

Two of my works have been nominated for the 2025 Auggie Awards. They are up now for public voting. May I ask for ur vote?

Societal Impact category:
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...

Indie Creators category:
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...
May 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We made this in my Fem-Tech Lab seminar in 2017 after a workshop with the Overpass Light Brigade.
#vjumamel
#olb
#overheadlightbrigade
March 14, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Made it to the Creative Capital's shortlist. There were over 5,000 applications - will apply again next year.

In the meanwhile,game is in production. Stay tuned for the trailer.

creative-capital.org/shortlist-20...

#vjumamel
#databodies
#arabfuturism
#arabfuturist
#videogame
#gaming
#cyborgs
January 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
January 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
January 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
On January 6, 2025, before a new chapter in American politics, revisit the past with my solo exhibition "Capital Glitch: Arab Cyborg Turns to D.C." This 2021 installation at Gallery QI used interactive mosaics, glitch art, and mixed reality.

Visit online at vj.live to interact with the works.
January 7, 2025 at 3:11 AM