Art Scene
Featured Saudi artists, photographers, & designers:
Ahmed Mater
Dr. Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri, the first Saudi artist to have his artwork bought by the British Museum, is also a medical doctor. He studied and practiced his art at Miftaha Cultural Village in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. To know more about Miftaha in specific and Aseer in general, pick up a copy of Oasis Magazine’s 7th issue..
The Saudi artist has had tremendous amounts of recognition from King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz himself to European art collectors. His art focuses on identity and blends illuminations (used in Qur’ans and old Islamic manuscripts), the Ka’ba, and x-rays. Dr. Mater is the one to watch on the Saudi art scene.
Noura Bouzo: Just Add Snow
Saudi artist, Noura Bouzo’s recent group of paintings, entitled “Just Add Snow”, depict incredible scenes of snow in Saudi Arabia. Just like snowflakes, no two of her paintings are alike, and yet again, just like snowflakes, they all instill you with a sense of wonder and thoughtful repose. Snow in the desert! How odd, how beautiful. How would such a simple change affect society? Would it be complex and thought-provoking? Would it be simple and mesmerizing? At the deepest level, the paintings force one to consider, “what does change mean to me?” Personally, I love the one with the women standing in the desert, all at once shocked, excited, and completely bewildered as to what’s happening.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Dr. Laila Al-Bassam
With several degrees to her name, Dr. Laila Al Bassam is the one everyone turns to when the subject of Saudi embroidery comes up. Other than being the expert on this topic, she also lends her time to her masters and doctorial students as well as so many other projects. Her designs have also been part of many exhibitions.
Book: Traditional Inheritance of Women’s Clothing in Najd
By Dr. Laila Saleh Al-Bassam
Jeddah Urban Artists
The young art scene in Saudi is ripe with captivating images of old and new, impoverished and wealthy, tarnished and glossy. But did you know that an “electronic” art world that shared and communicated virtually is also emerging here? Photographers, calligraphers, designers and every other kind of artist from around the world can be found on a website known as DeviantART; and the Saudi group on this site - Jeddah Urban Artists - is eager to make their mark. Can they help revolutionize the way artists in Saudi interact and produce art? Farida Al Husseini interviews these artists for Oasis…
Fayiz Melibary, Abdullah Kurashi, Asmaa Mohurji, and Sharifa G. - the founders - are artists themselves, and though they had no formal training they make up for it with a lot of dedication and heart. They have managed to build a virtual community of artists and provide them with the chance to meet each other and network regardless of which part of the country they happen to live in. They met on the DeviantART website - hence their original name Jeddah Deviants - and decided to form their own group within the site to unite other artists with a strong interest in Saudi arts (http://jeddah-deviants.deviantart.com).
Naima Al Shuhail
Naima Al Shuhail, owner of Al Qadem boutique, has a philosophy of creating beautiful traditional clothing. Each unique piece of clothing that she designs first starts as textiles that are sewn together by different women who have the complete freedom to sew however they want. The finished textiles, each completely individual, then go through the process of design until the finished product is a unique piece named after the woman who first sewed the piece together.
Al Rashed Mall, Al-Khobar
Tel: (9663) 8976300
H.R.H. Areej bint Turki bin Nasser
Although young, Areej a graphic design major is already an established designer. Her clothing line includes hoodie jackets with traditional embroidery, traditional Saudi cloth transformed into beautiful bags, and so many more pieces that effortlessly blend the modern with intricate traditional details. All her designs will be available soon once her boutique is open to the public. Other than graphic design and fashion design, Areej also paints; her artwork is inspired by the likes of Jackson Pullock and traditional Arabic calligraphy.
H.R.H. Areej’s Boutique
Faisaliah Mall, Riyadh
Noa Couture: Nawaf or Noa of London
Noa, as he is known, is already making headline as a Saudi fashion designer. As a student at the famed Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, he showed his talent through the modern twist on traditional Saudi clothing and footwear. He is already being dubbed as one of the “rising stars of the Saudi couture industry.” His collection includes bejewled women’s evening dresses and traditional Saudi n’ial in modern colors and jewels.
“NOA COUTURE is a Saudi fashion house whose main atelier is based in the capital Riyadh and which has a distribution office in London. The creative process draws its inspiration from everyday life, celebrity friends across the globe, art movies, music festivals, and last but not least, urban street life.”-Noa Couture
Noa Couture
Awadh Al Hamzani’s Lens
Awadh Al Hamzani is one Saudi photographer who has managed to capture the beauty of Saudi nature in full. His passion for this subject in particular manages to capture an audience’s full attention. The intensity of the greenery in Hail (Northern Saudi city), the incredible stillness of the desert, the power of the clouds, and the beauty of unexplored caves are all incredibly portrayed in his work.
