Oasis Magazine

Editor’s Note

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:41:27 +0000

In the words of Maz Jobrani: “ HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAUDI ARABIA!”

Here we are at the end of our second year of bringing you great stories by talented writers about this wondrous world of ours. We’ve had lots of readers ask us about the process we go through with each issue, especially about how we choose our articles. 3 words: Magic 8 ball. Just take a look at how we came up with this issue, and you’ll see what we mean.

“Can we run these articles that talk about the fascinating history of Najran and the beautiful wonders of Taif?”

As I see it, yes.

“All right, how about our In Focus section? We’re thinking of focusing on the future and talk about the Al Ghad Forum as well as the Kingdom’s progress with what is basically the world’s biggest to do list: the U.N. Millennium goals. What do you think oh magic 8 ball?”

Outlook good.

“Perfect. Ah, my favorite section, the Mashaweer guide to Saudi. We’ve got some great stuff here, including pieces about Yadawy pottery, Harvey Nichols Riyadh’s 9th birthday, an interview with a restaurant entrepreneur, and some wonderful summer finds just in time for the hottest season of the year. Sound good?”

It is certain.

“Yay! All right, our Healthy Mind section is looking at the usual fun selection of books and movie reviews, as well as a powerful article on autism and a look at the biggest library on the planet which exists solely online, the World Digital Library. Have we chosen wisely?”

It is decidedly so.

“Thank you, 8 ball. Ooo, travel section. We’ve got some beautiful locales to check out this summer. Verona, Mongolia, and a swoon-worthy Maldives trip that’s known as the Rania Experience. What say you?”

Signs point to yes.

“It’s like we’re on the same wavelength. Finally, our Edgy section has a range of articles, from shiny products and sweet sweets to perhaps the funniest global miscommunication project we’ve ever heard of, The Sign Spotting Project. Can we? Can we?”

Without a doubt.

And there you have it, dear readers. An entire issue fully sanctioned by the magical 8 ball. I can’t think of a better reference than that.

Till next time!

The Forum of Tomorrow

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:21:47 +0000

By Ahmed Dialdin

Intro

Al Ghad Forum states what it’s about right in its title. Al Ghad… tomorrow. It’s about dealing with tomorrow today and ensuring our society is always developing and becoming a better place in the future. The world is constantly changing and this forum aims to stimulate our Kingdom and enhance its competitiveness so that it can not only keep up with, but surpass and become a role model in the global society and economy.

Unique Strategy

“What makes Al Ghad Forum unique is our pledge to address major development issues and scientifically examine those issues from various angles and perspectives.” — Princess Nouf bint Faisal bin Turki Al Saud, Forum Chairperson.

Part of Al Ghad’s unique approach is its focus on forming strategic partnerships with those that are playing an active role in society’s progress and merging everyone’s expertise to achieve a common goal of bettering the country.

“We realize the importance of sharing expertise and joining others in creating development programs and activities to achieve our common goals for the betterment of our society.” –Princess Nouf

Youth make up 70% of the Saudi Population

The forum was inaugurated in April 2009 under the slogan, “Partners with the Youth,” emphasizing the belief that it is through the young men and women of this country that our society will be built — especially considering that 70% of our population is under the age of 30.

“It is our responsibility to inspire them and share with them their visions and responsibilities. We must put our hands in their hands to carry their burden and help them develop their potentials, bringing up with them a culture of initiative and contribution to achieve sustainable development of our society.” — Princess Nouf

The Focus

This year’s forum focused on several key objectives all centered on how to support the youth in developing Saudi Arabia. The objectives followed a clear path: identify opportunities for the youth, empower them, develop initiatives for them, promote cooperation, showcase global success stories, and finally support the youth as the driving force for change.

The Forum’s Program

The 2009 Al Ghad Forum ran April 18-20, beginning with several keynote speeches from Princess Nouf, Lebanon’s Education Minister Bahiya Hariri, and finally the patron of the forum, Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The next two days showcased a healthy range of discussions between college students and professors, Al-Shoura members, and several experts in the fields of education and development. They looked at four fundamental topics.

The first such topic addressed youth and development, discussing the challenges facing young people that are building their communities, what they require for progress and the level of their participation in society decision-making.

Next was the issue of how to invest in the young generation through proper planning, the development of useful programs and monitoring their empowerment and contributions.

The third topic looked at what was needed to build the capabilities of young Saudis by promoting a culture of creativity, professionalism, self-initiative, and leadership.

Finally, the fourth topic considered the role of national institutions in supporting the youth, partnering with them and developing a sense of responsibility, transparency, and accountability in them.

Models to Follow

During the event, there was also an accompanying exhibition that showcased successful experiences as well as sponsoring establishments that were already in place supporting the youth.

A Successful Istitution

Prince Sultan University (PSU) was one of the educational institutions that participated in the Al-Ghad Forum. PSU’s participation showcased their understanding of the Saudi youth. Their moto coincides with that of the forum: “we and the youth are partners.” The talks presented by PSU introduced their Program for Talented Students as well as their Personality Building Program, and the Prince Salman Education for Employment Program which aims to educate young Saudi graduates and provide them with the skills needed for employment.

With the talks presented by Prince Sultan University’s Dr. Yamani and others, it hopes to have showed that they are an institution in tune with what the Saudi youth is in need of and what would help them succeed and become driving forces of change and progress in their communities. Giving the youth skills to calibrate their professionalism and successful workforce skills.

Like other new educational institutions throughout the Kingdom, PSU is collaborating with local organizations and initiatives as well as internationally-recognized institutions to create programs that not only provide the best possible education but also create an ongoing connection between like-minded institutions. This has undoubtedly begun a movement towards quicker progress through a greater exchange of ideas between.

Conclusion

All that was discussed throughout the forum has reassured us of how much thought and effort is being dedicated towards today’s Saudi youth. The successful implementation of all that was discussed will empower the youth and foster in them a sense of creativity, innovation, professinalism, and dedication all of which will play a decisive role creating active individuals who will build a better tomorrow.

“I hope that this forum paves the way for our young boys and girls to stimulate their potentials, trigger their energy and optimism, so that we progress all the way to the top as a country.” — Princess Nouf

www.fof.org.sa

For more in focus articles, check out Oasis Magazine’s 8th issue (now in stores)!

Art News

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:51:04 +0000

A Historical Album of Photographs…

A historical album of photographs that records the first British Royal visit to Saudi Arabia- providing an insight into the Kingdom’s early history and coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s discovery of oil in commercial quantities- was sold at Sotheby’s this summer for £61,250. The photographs were kept and documented by Lord Frederick Cambridge, the nephew of HRH Princess Alice (pictured above), Countess of Athlone, and the Earl of Athlone. This photographed visit of HRH Princess Alice to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain took place from the 25th of February to the 17th of March, 1938. Lord Frederick, the aide-de-camp on this visit, wonderfully documented the goodwill visit that was meant to strengthen the friendly ties between Saudi Arabia and Great Britain. The trip, which took place a year after HM King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the first king of the region, shows Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone in traditional Arab dress!

The King Abdulaziz Public Library owns the only other album of photographs documenting this visit. It was made by Princess Alice herself and includes handwritten captions, newspaper cuttings of articles, and original official reports on this visit. King George VI sent a congratulatory telegram to King Abdul Aziz during the course of this visit for the discovery of oil well Dammam No. 7 by the California Arabian Standard Oil Company.

Islamic Art Conference in Cordoba…

A conference on Islamic art and culture will be held November 3-4, 2009, in the old town of Cordoba, a UNESCO heritage site. The event is organized by two of the leading authors on Islamic art, Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom, and sponsored by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and the Qatar Foundation. Blair and Bloom will be accompanied by twelve scholars of Islamic art and culture, four of which are from the Arab world. The talks included will discuss Islamic art’s aesthetic and meaning of colors used in manuscripts, ceramics, carpets, and architecture. This third biennial of this Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art is titled And Diverse Are Their Hues: Color in Islamic Art and Culture. Some of the talks included are: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”, “My Name Is Red”, and “The Hues of Paradise.”

Each of the days of the conference will be held at stunning locations throughout Cordoba, from the Palacio de Gongresos, a 16th century building, to the Islamic gardens of Alcazaba, a fortification built by the Moors. The symposium will surely be a great reminder of the great history of the Muslims in Spain and the early Muslims’s great accomplishments in the fields of art, architecture, and beyond.

The conference is free for all!

Saudi Artists in Venice…

The Islamic world and Venice have had a very rich history of artistic exchange up until the 16th century. Islamic art inspired Venetian artists ever since the merchants of Venice started to trade with the Islamic world in the 9th century. The architecture of Venice, the glasswork, and the works of famous Italian artists such as Bellini are all clear evidence of the great influence that Islamic art had on Venice. However, starting from the 19th century the influence of Venice on the art world has clearly been more significant than that of the Islamic/Arab World. Its famed annual Venice Biennale has showcased the best of the art world since its inception in 1895.

This summer, the historical artistic exchange between Venice and the Arab world is being reignited. For the first time in the Biennale’s history, a group of Arab artists exhibit their work together on its international stage. The Edge of Arabia’s group of ten contemporary male and female artists from Saudi Arabia represent, through their artwork, their Islamic culture and their diversified 21st century lives in Saudi Arabia. Their art expresses their individual identities through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and a variety of other methods. This new generation of Saudi artists, who will undoubtedly “shed light on the largely unknown contemporary art culture of Saudi Arabia,” will be exhibiting their work at the Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo.

“This is not an exposition of international misconceptions concerning Saudi Arabia, but a series of reflections on local identity, the environment, individual (re)constructions of the past, and our 21st century engagement with the future.” Edge of Arabia

June 5th, 2009 - August 2nd, 2009

Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo

Venice

Christie’s Sells Saudi Arabian Art…

According to Christie’s, their auction of International Modern and Contemporary Art in Dubai, which took place on the 29th of April, totaled $ 4,766,175! Clients from the Middle East formed the highest percentage of buyers. This has reinforced that the art market in the region is very much alive and has been “reenergized” after a sluggish period dampened the bursting Middle Eastern art scene.

Oasis: How did the Saudi artists do in this auction?

Christie’s: The Saudi Arabian section in the sale totalled $63,750 / AED 233,962. The highlights were an intricate work by Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri, Illumination V and IV, made of X-ray film print on paper, stained with tea and pomegranate juice and embossed with gold leaf, turquoise, amber and carnelian, which sold for $20,000 / AED 73,400 (estimate: $15,000-20,000) and Maharam, a play on the Arabic word used to describe tissues and close family, by Ayman Yossri Daydban which sold for $25,000 / AED 91,750. Works were also offered by Lulwah Al-Homoud (sold for $1,875), Abdulnasser Gharem (sold for $8,750), and Reem Al-Faisal (sold for $8,125).

Oasis: What has been the importance of this auction to the Saudi Arabian artists in particular?

Christie’s: The Saudi Arabian art included in the auction, which totaled SR 239,000, formed the first group of works from Saudi Arabia that has been offered at international auction.

www.christies.com

Al Manakh…

By Joumana Al Jabri

Al Manakh is a publication, a documentation, a reference book, and an almanac, that is a result of a collaborative initiative to monitor, reveal and forecast new urban developments unfolding in the Gulf region. It is a point of departure for critical thinking and productive exchange in the region and for the region.

The second issue, due in early 2010, will take a close look at Saudi Arabia’s key cities and regions: Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca-Madina, and the Eastern Province. The team has been actively engaging with professionals from the region to source knowledge. This was brought home – to Saudi – in May when the team established contact with professionals from various fields such as architecture, urban planning, psychology, photography, development, government, and youth. Two consecutive events took place in Riyadh and Jeddah. A follow up is planned in October 2009.

The blog, almanakh.org, is currently the platform through which the Al Manakh reader can get a glimpse of the directions of the second publication as well as information on how to contribute to the ongoing conversation on what the key topics are regarding the social, economic, and physical development of named cities in the Gulf.

http://almanakh.org

Nawafeth: Saudi Artists in Rome and Italian Artists in Riyadh…

By Samia Kanaan

An intercultural event has been taking place from 2007 till 2009. The event, named “Nawafeth-Soglie” consists of two sequential events, as the name suggests. The former took place in Riyadh in May 2007. The latter has been taking place in Rome, Italy in the premises of the “Museo di Roma” in Trastever in June 2009. The event was formed by the Italian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and has been supported by the Municipality of Rome.

In Rome, the event has been under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Cultural Activities, together with representatives of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Riyadh, this event has been organized by the Italian Embassy represented by Mrs. Rosaria D’Auria, wife of his Excellency the Ambassador of Italy, Mr. Eugenio D’Auria (an interview with Mrs. Rosaria can be read in Oasis Magazine’s Spring 2008 issue) with the cooperation of the Al Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women.

“There is passion, vitality, engagement and affinity in the world of women which deserves support and recognition. This is why this event is taking place, to complement the one that took place in Riyadh.” - Mrs. Rosaria D’Auria

This unprecedented event includes 41 ladies, artists and craftswomen, 20 of whom are Italians and 19 are Saudis. Each of these women introduces her own culture through highly qualified and professionaly distinguished works of art. The Saudi women included are: Zeinab Al Khudairy, Hala Al Khudairy, Helwa Al Atawi, Lamia Al Mershid, Hilda Ismail, Susan Baaghil, Manal Al Dowayan, Hind Ba’ashan, Massoudah Qurban, Norah bint Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud, Salwa Al Hokeil, Thurraya Al Arrayed, Maha Al Senan, Areej bint Turki Al Saud, Wafa Baha’i, Lama Sudeiri, Shaden Al Tuwaijri, Maryam Al Ami, Amel Al Tuwaijri, and Nawal Moussalli. The event’s opening in Rome included two conferences held by Dr. Thurayya Al Arrayed and Maha Al Senan, covering diverse topics ranging from sociology, anthropology and economics to art and women’s cultural movement in Saudi Arabia.

Throughout this intercultural project, the core goal has been to build bridges between East and West through highlighting common roots, history, and celebrating diversity. The connection that has been established has shown a great commonalities between the two cultures and the different skills that each culture posses from different traditions in jewelry making to the commonalities in pottery and glass.

June 11 - June 19, 2009

Museo di Roma

Rome, Italy

Autism Speaks in Saudi Arabia

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:10:07 +0000

By Rania Khalilieh

It takes a philanthropist to knead a personal tragedy into a universal issue. Moreover, it is a big challenge to stir up dormant topics and speak on behalf of a silent person in a harsh and indifferent world.

“True greatness consists in the use of a powerful understanding to enlighten oneself and others” - Voltaire

Bob and Suzanne Wright are the true embodiment of altruism. They were able to mold their personal dilemma into a universal movement when they realized that their grandchild was diagnosed with autism.

“At that time, autism was misunderstood and disregarded by the majority of people which was totally frustrating for parents who had autistic children. We felt alone and left out, but we were resolved to change the whole situation. Someone had to speak on behalf of those autistic children and their families.” Commented Suzanne Wright; a woman of strong determination and insight.

The whole process could have been way easier had Bob used his former post as CEO of NBC to obtain the best care for his autistic grandchild and managed to go about their dilemma without making a great issue of it. However, because both Suzanne and Bob Wright are believers in what Gandhi once said:” Be the change you want to see in the world”; they took a different path by establishing “Autism Speaks.”

The Birth of Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is an organization that advocates of autism through sponsoring researches, spreading awareness, supporting the involved families and reaching out to the government and public. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright as a reaction to the discovery that one of his grandchildren was autistic. “The brutal fact was that autism was mal-diagnosed and labeled by professionals as behavioral abnormality, it was not common to diagnose a child as autistic, as a result of that, parents were devastated and frustrated by not knowing what was wrong with their child.” added Bob Wright; an ambitious and intelligent man…

Read the full article in Oasis Magazine’s 8th issue.

Comedy Nights with Saudi Comedians :)

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:32:05 +0000

Maz Jobrani and a line-up of talented local comedians interviewed by Mohammed Al-Saadoun

The comedy shows in Saudi, this time around, were hosted by Ahmed Ahmed; tagging along was comedian Maz Jobrani with many local comedians; which included first timers as well as returning comedians and even the very first female Saudi comedian.

I sat down with three of the local comedians… Ibrahim Al-Khairallah, Abduallah Saidan and Sherif Azab.

Being a Saudi comedian is uncommon, so what made you pursue it?

Ibrahim Al-Khairallah- I love laughter. Since I was a kid I’ve loved to make people laugh. So when I got the opportunity in Saudi Arabia I felt like this is my time to change my career from an actor to a comedian. I have acted in 25 plays in Riyadh, 2 shows on tv ( مسلسل غشمشم) and (صياحة ), and I’ve done the voices of 7 cartoon characters (Shdeed & Tamam) out of 10. So far I’ve done 4 s

hows in Riyadh, 1 jeddah, and 1 in khobar butmuch more to come.

Abduallah Saidan- I loved standup comedy since I saw a Pablo Francisco gig about 4 or 5 years ago. Throughout high school, I watched a big number of standup gigs, mainly through YouTube. And I set my mind on performing a show of my own sometime during university. Although I wouldn’t call it a profession, I started pursuing stand up at KFUPM (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) under a competition set by the Theater club. What caused the leap to bigger and more public performances was the support of my friends.

Sherif Azab- This whole being a comedian thing came to me, and I know this will sound very cliché, naturally, I was usually that one person in the group that would try and lighten the mood up when things would go bad, and I decided I might as well give it a shot professionally. The fact that it started in Saudi, I wouldn’t say unusual, but interesting, as people have been starving for ways to entertain themselves in the Kingdom, and things are just starting to ease up now.

Do you do this full time? Why?

Ibrahim Al-Khairallah- No, I do comedy for fun and part time. Why?? Cause still in SA you can’t live by beeing only a comedian.

Abduallah Saidan- I do stand up part time, and I don’t think of turning it to a full-time career at the moment. Why? Well, I view myself as a funny engineer, not a comedian.

Sherif Azab- I’m not doing this full time just yet, that’s what I aspire to reach and it would be GREAT! Quit my day job (boss, you reading this?), sit around in my boxers all day at home, and work on material to make people laugh! But I think I still have a long road ahead of me to get to that stage, you need to practice, practice, and PRACTICE! And unfortunately as of yet, we don’t have venues to practice periodically and try out our new skits, it’s always at a big show, but hopefully this would change soon.

How does the Saudi audience respond to your stand-up performances?

Ibrahim Al-Khairallah- Alhamdullah all my jokes are related to the culture and I always make sure that I’m not being rude or crossing the line in any way. I can tell that they love what im doing

Abduallah Saidan- Alhamdulillah, most of my performances get better reception than I thought they would. The Saudi audience is simply amazing.

Sherif Azab- I have been all over the major Saudi cities; from Dhahran on the east to Jeddah on the west, and the Saudi audience is probably one of the best I’ve ever performed for…especially Riyadh! They’re a well educated crowd with a thirst for laughter!

Who are your comedic role models?

Ibrahim Al-Khairallah- I like Jerry Seinfeld , Jamie Fox and Robin Williams. But I think my role model is Russell Peters.

Abduallah Saidan- Although I’m sure that every clip of standup I saw left something in me; I would say that my role model comedians are Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle and Russell Peters.

Sherif Azab- Adel Imam, from the western comedy scene I would say George Carlin and Mitch Hedberg.

Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?

Ibrahim Al-Khairallah- A professional comedian performing in front of 5000 people in RIYADH inshallah.

Abduallah Saidan- I hope to see myself getting my master’s degree, and starting to work in a well paid and interesting job. As for the comedy, only time could tell.

Sherif Azab- INTERNATIONAL! lol, who am I kidding! In 5 years I hope to have a well established fan base in the Middle East, touring the area with the other great comedians I have come to meet, and really getting this standup comedy scene to take off in the Arab world.

To read the whole article, check out Oasis Magazine’s 8th issue.

The Library of the Global City

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:20:43 +0000

By Ahmad Dialdin

With the advent of the internet, the Global Village was born. Every culture and country on the planet is connected and tied to each other like never before, all within the walls of the world wide web. If you wanted to see the Maori people, you could find pictures and videos of them online. If you wanted to buy something from London, Boston or Sydney, you can just hop on the net and find a veritable mall of stores to shop from. If you wanted to talk to someone from Japan, Brazil, and South Africa, all at the same time, you can do it through a simple online forum. In this global village you can find all the trappings of a real place: stores, cafes, museums, even universities.. they all may be virtual, but they all exist online to make up this Global Village… this Global City really.

It seems only natural then, that this city would have a library as well. Not just any library, but one that represents its locale. Enter the World Digital Library (WDL), an international digital library operated by the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United States Library of Congress.

As you might guess from its name, this library is by the world, for the world, and about the world. Geared at promoting international and intercultural understanding, WDL is focused on providing a wealth of cultural content, especially non-English and non Western content, to educators, scholars and the citizens of our global city. The library consists of materials from cultures around the world, including manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, architectural drawings, and other significant cultural materials.

Read the full article in Oasis Magazine’s 8th issue.

27 Saudi Movies and Counting

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:29:06 +0000

By Feras Sheraiff

The Gulf film Festival (GFF) was featured last year for the first time, bringing life to the local movie scene. There are many movie-goers in the gulf, but who would have thought there were also movie-makers? The Festival ran for the second year last April with more than 160 featured entries that were distributed between feature films, documentaries, and shorts.

What was noticed this second time around was that the number of Saudi’s competing comprised of 27 entries! Their entries ranged from three-minute shorts to a full 84-minute feature. The Saudi films revolved around many topics such as music, ex-pats living in Saudi, Saudis’ living abroad and special needs.

The Film “Al-Samt” by Tawfiq AlZaidi tackled the last topic, where he portrayed the lives of two deaf children who survived a car accident which killed their parents. The film received local recognition and is on the road to receiving international recognition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Waleed Othman was awarded with Second Prize in the Official Competition Feature category for his entry “Revenge”, an 84-minute long film that follows the lives of “Four brothers who get involved in a gang war when one of them accidentally discovers a bag belonging to the gang leader” and how their lives are changed forever due to this discovery.

Mohammad Aldhahri’s “Sunrise | Sunset” received Third Prize in the Official Competition Short category. The 28-minute movie focuses on “an ordinary day in a street-kid’s life that examines family, society and security.”

Faisal Otaibi’s Official Competition Documentary “The Fort” also received Third Prize. The 14-minute documentary explores the “goings-on inside of the Great Fort.”

Two Saudi entries received prizes in the Student Competition Short category. Anggi Makki, creator of the 13-minute romantic drama/comedy “Badri?” received Third Prize, while Mohammed Al-Tamimi received the Special Jury Prize for his 2-minute animation “PG+”, which takes a “look at the criteria for qualifying a movie as PG.”

The Saudi entries also included the entries of Hana Abdullah and Reem Al-Bayyat, who were the only two Saudi women in the competition. Hana’s “Beyond Words” was a 45-minute music documentary that showed a “musical dialogue between an Argentinean Tango Group, visiting Saudi for the first time, and a Saudi Folk music band”, highlighting how music is perceived in each culture. Reem’s “Shadows” was an 8-minute experimental drama fantasy that shows the life of a girl who felt emptiness in her life that was filled with shadows when nothing changed after she was gone.

Read more in Oasis Magazine’s 8th issue (in stores now).

Issue 7 - Digital Edition

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:24:42 +0000

Click on pages to zoom in.

The Green Box Museum

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:21:18 +0000

The Green Box Museum

The first museum dedicated solely to Saudi art!

In the heart of Amsterdam lies the Green Box Museum. It is green because its owner wanted it to be more than just another “white cube” museum. The chosen name is also foremost in reference to Saudi Arabia. Here, we take a sneak peak into the museum as we interview the owner and curator Aarnout Helb, before the museum has even been opened to the public.

Oasis: How did the idea of the museum come to you?

I was downloading pictures of Makkah from sites on the internet for a virtual visit. While doing so I perceived this was in some way similar to what scholars did at the ancient museum of Alexandria. They copied text from scrolls they found aboard ships that visited the harbour. This idea of a virtual visit came from seeing an exhibition of postcards sent from Makkah by students of an Islamic school in Rotterdam. I was at the time making an exhibition of modern art and started wondering which work of art would be appreciated in Saudi Arabia. So I started to research what art in Saudi Arabia is about.

Oasis: Why Saudi art in particular?

Because Saudi Arabia has custody over cities that are also important for many people in the Netherlands. You should know I am from a racially and religiously diverse family with roots in Europe, Asia and Africa. My grandfather for example had Chinese looks and was a Dutch ambassador. He had an uncle who was a general and was of Dutch-Javanese heritage. Somewhere I keep a postcard on which he wrote his name and rank in Arabic calligraphy with “Allah ta’ala” in all four corners. I like to honor this diverse heritage and collecting your art is just a way of doing so with pleasure.

Oasis also asks many more questions, including: Can you define Saudi modern art? What is your favorite piece so far?

Read the whole interview in Oasis Magazine’s Spring 2009 issue (in stores April 2009).

The King Khalid Foundation: initiatives and awards

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:02:18 +0000

The King Khalid Foundation

Although it has been almost 30 years since his passing, King Khalid is still remembered fondly for everything that he had done during his time as king of Saudi Arabia. Some have even taken his principles and values to heart — especially in the service of the individual and the society — which brings us to the King Khalid Foundation (KKF).

KKF was established in 2001 as a royal, independent, national institution that is not only geared at enhancing social, educational, cultural and vocational standards, but also holds the vision of being the leader in philanthropic and developmental work within the Kingdom. The Foundation has been managed since its inception by the Director General, HRH Princess Banderi bint Abdulrahman Al Faisal.

Holding the belief that all people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives and their communities, KKF uses its resources and expertise to make a positive impact in people’s lives, they also work in partnership with other organizations to provide innovative solutions to critical social and economic challenges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Think of the Foundation as a catalyst for change. Whether it funds social and economic development projects (including training, research, and policy development programs), or awards citizens and corporations for their contributions to the Kingdom, KKF is in the business of giving the people of the country the push and recognition they deserve for working to make our nation a better place.

www.kkf.org.sa

Read the whole article in Oasis Magazine’s 7th issue (in stores April 2009)…