Foundland Collective (Ghalia Elsrakbi and Lauren Alexander) is a design, research and art practice, based between Cairo, Egypt and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The collective’s work draws on graphic design, art, writing and research in order to formulate small and large scale projects, self-initiated and commissioned. Since inception in 2009, the collective have focused on critical analysis of topics related to political and place branding, manifesting their speculations and ideas through visual and written manifestations like exhibitions and publications. Since 2011, Foundland’s focus shifted to the Middle East with special interest in Ghalia’s homeland, Syria. They gather observations from media, activist groups and social media trends of political expression, and grow an expanding database of visuals and information; history in the making. By drawing unexpected relations and connections, they create alternative narratives to media reporting through innovative image making and personal interpretation.

Ghalia Elsrakbi (born 1978, Damascus) completed a BA Graphic Design at ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de Kunst, Arnhem, followed by a Masters in Design at the Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam. In 2009, she followed a research postgraduate at Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht. Since 2011, she has been involved with various activist groups promoting creative dissidence in Syria and since 2013 is based in Cairo, Egypt.

Lauren Alexander (born 1983, Cape Town) completed a BA Graphic Design at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa, followed by a Masters in Design at the Sandberg Institute. In 2009 she pursued an MFA at the Dutch Art Institute in Arnhem. She is member of the tutoring staff at the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague.

Foundland has presented exhibitions and festivals at Kadist Art Foundation, Paris, 2012; Impakt Festival, Utrecht, 2011 and 2012; BAK, Utrecht, 2012; and Damascus Visual Arts Festival @ DEP, Istanbul, 2013.