Intisar Al-Yamani is a writer, whose name has appeared frequently on the pages of Arab News. But you might be surprised to learn that writing is just one of her talents. Intisar is also an artist of international renown. Driven by a passion to bring expression to canvas, she is becoming a role model for the new generation of female Saudi artists.
Although she was born in Jeddah, much of her childhood was spent in London, where her father was posted as a diplomat. Intisar eventually progressed in her education to receive a BA in Education and Art and an MA in Communication and Sociology from the University of London. She then began research toward her Ph.D. while teaching at the King Fahd Academy in London. Her interest in art and art history can be traced back to her childhood when she used to be taken to visit art exhibitions and galleries at school. "It was as if I was awakened to a subject that was going to be part of my life in the future," commented Intisar.
During her art training, Intisar studied the painting of many modern and classical artists, but those of most interest to her were the 19th century French Impressionists, particularly Manet, Monet and Renoir. "It was the first real step toward modern art that was filled with so much controversy at the time," explained Intisar. What attracted her the most to the Impressionists’ technique was their use of light and vibrant, complimentary color rather than the traditional naturalistic or "realistic" depiction of subject matter in Renaissance painting before the advent of photography. "In my opinion," said Intisar, "if you want a realistic painting, why not just take a photograph of the subject?"
She appreciates the works of artists from the Arab world who have adopted Western influences but used traditional Arabic subject matter taken from the local environment and Arabic calligraphy. "However, painting in the Arab world is fairly new compared to the long, established history in the West. Arab crafts traditions are more significant than painting," said Intisar about art in the Arab world and particularly Saudi Arabia. "There is a growing Saudi arts movement and this is very positive." However, she thinks that this movement is quite exclusive because there is not much of a serious interest in art by citizens in general. "People are still at the early stage and have little knowledge of art and its value, so they settle for purchasing prints and copies from the numerous ‘art shops’ on every street, purely for decoration rather than appreciation."
Hopefully, that is a situation which will change.
Intisar pointed to The Saudi Society for Culture and the Arts in the Kingdom as one organization that funds Saudi art exhibitions and is working to introduce Saudi art to the world. "Women have played a significant and pivotal role in the Saudi arts movement. The society encourages Saudi female artists to produce and exhibit their work."
While she does occasionally dabble in other styles, Intisar is best known for her abstract art. This means that her paintings do not represent real life imagery of objects. Once in a while, just for a change, she also paints still-life and portraits in representational form. Intisar prefers to work with acrylic on canvas, but she has also used oils on canvas. "The theme of my work is an interaction of abstraction with influences of our Islamic tradition whether it is through color or subject matter like forms of Islamic architecture and artifacts or a juxtaposition of both." The aim of her paintings is to celebrate Saudi and Islamic heritage by using a modern visual language that transcends cultural boundaries. "My work has, therefore, appealed to both the Western and the Eastern viewer."
Intisar’s first significant exhibition was held at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London in 2000, during the celebration of the Kingdom’s National Day. She has also exhibited her work in Vienna and Bahrain, and has exhibitions planned for Damascus, Morocco and the Philippines. Intisar recently moved from London to Riyadh with her husband, Khaled Al-Suwaha. "My move to Riyadh was of course a big step. No doubt the way of life on the whole is very different here, but as a Muslim and Arab our tradition and culture remains the same anywhere we live," she pointed out. As for the working environment here, "it is quite different from England, even from Saudi institutions in London, because it is segregated and transport without a driver is difficult... I was used to driving." However, Intisar said that this has taught her to adopt different ways of working, communicating with others and traveling. "This has not limited my travels abroad for work which I really enjoy, giving me the opportunity to do what I like best, to represent the Kingdom as a Saudi, to correct misconceptions about our religion and culture."
With the encouragement and support of her husband, much in the same way her father had encouraged her education, Intisar carries on with her career as an artist and also writes for Arab News. She gets great satisfaction from bridging some of the gaps between East and West on a common ground. For this reason the social issues she writes about for Arab News are concerned with presenting our Islamic and Arab heritage in a light of truth, and initiating a dialogue for progress in areas in need of development.
Being a woman leading a modern, fulfilling life in the Kingdom, Intisar asserts that assumptions held about Saudi women in the West and even other parts of the Arab world, are quite wrong. "We are not oppressed and we have the choice to educate ourselves, but the level of education depends on how high the individual wants to reach, similar to anywhere in the world," she commented.
— Arab News Features 9 January 2003