Talal Othman Al-Tukhaes, a Saudi artist from Al-Dawadmi, is known for sculpting in stones, marble and other materials.

In 2009, he sculpted his first stone sculpture titled “Al-Ghat.” It was from sedimentary rock. His passion for art started way back in his life. Arab News interviewed him to find out more about his sculptures, the galleries he participated in and his future plans.

Have you studied art, or was it just a hobby?

There was no study academic wise, but I was observing my great teacher, Ali Al-Tukhaes, for five years without any attempt from my side. Later, I started with my first piece in 2009.

Why did you chose sculpture in particular? What attracted you to this art?

Its difficulty. I adore challenges.

Do you have other hobbies beside sculpting?

I have always loved Arabic calligraphy/font and its letters. I took a couple of courses, one of them was by an Arabic calligrapher in the holy mosque of Makkah, Ibrahim Al-Arrafi. I also participated in some galleries with a couple of pieces of Arabic calligraphy.

Who is Talal’s source of inspiration?

Society.

Who adopted Talal’s talent?

No one, actually, but Ali Al-Tukhaes has done a great favor.

Did you face difficulties in the beginning? What did your family think?

Everyone goes through difficulties in the beginning, but thank God I have overcome those obstacles. As far as my family is concerned, they were very supportive.

Does luck play a significant role in Talal’s life, or is it the hard work that is behind his success?

God’s help first, then comes hard work and perseverance. Social networking sites also had a big role.

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

The plans are big for enriching and serving arts and providing the good and new. Also, I aim to focus on important galleries and occasions, locally and internationally.

Is there some sort of connection between you and the piece you design/sculpt?

Of course, there is a big connection. Designing and submitting a piece takes months, sometimes years, and there is always this special conversation between us.

Is there a certain theme that dominates your works?

My passion for Arabic calligraphy has a clear touch on my works, hence I use the Arabic letter in most of my sculptures.

What are the materials you use in sculpting?

I usually use stones and marbles, but there are some pieces in mud I submitted in Italy, in addition to a huge work of steel that was a part of the Jeddah Art Week organized by Arabian Wings.

Tell us about the entire sculpting process.

The concept comes from the reality that I live and see in society. It takes enough time on the paper in the designing process. The next step is choosing the right stone (the color, size and shape) after the design completes. I usually bring the stones myself from the mountains surrounding my city Al-Dawadmi, which is rich in different types of stones. Then, I start cutting a base for the piece, determining the external lines of the work, and getting rid of the unwanted parts. After that, begins the stage of detailing, smoothing and polishing. Once the the piece is done, I attach it with the base.

When can you tell that the piece in your hand is about to finish?

When it starts moving and talking.

What is the hardest stage of producing a piece?

The concept.

Have you been through an obstacle during designing and decided to stop?

The obstacle is in conveying the concept in a convincing and beautiful way. My designs go through long adjustments before the submission, and that might take months.

How long does it take for a piece before it is finally completed?

There is no specific time. There are a lot of factors that play an important role in producing a piece, like the design itself, the material, the state of mind, the timing ... etc.

Have you ever sculpted a piece from someone else’s inspiration?

Yes, there is always a possibility of exchanging points of view to reach a satisfactory level for both the costumer and me. Every artist has his own style and the method he uses in his works.

How do you classify your audience? Which category do you target most with you works?

My audience is diverse, and the love of art is in everyone. There is no specific category, I speak to society and all its categories.

Where did you display your works? Locally or internationally?

I displayed my works in more than 80 local and international galleries, and participated in the most important galleries that were established in the last five years in most of the Kingdom’s cities. I also represented the Kingdom in Morocco, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Spain. My works have won awards. I participated in a couple of art auctions.

Do you offer your works for sale?

Yes, indeed. They are for sale, and many piece have been sold out , thank God.

How much does a piece cost?

The price of art cannot be estimated, but the name of the artist, his fame and creativity are factors that determine the price.

Where do you aim to display your works?

In a place that suits them to reach all categories that care for art.

Do you wish to reach different people internationally?

The term international changes from time to time. Now with the existence of social networking sites, this term has changed. My works speak to humanity and my goal is to imitate (through my works) all communities.

Is there a piece you saw and wished it was yours?

Yes, a piece by the British artist Henry Moore. I participated in restoring it with a team of experts from Britain. It is one of the large bronze works in Jeddah’s corniche.

As an artist, have you fallen into the trap of imitating, or do you make sure to have your own touch?

It is normal for artists to be influenced by those around him initially, but he has to find his own style later on. However, I think my works had their own style from the beginning.

If someone said, ‘I want to be the next Talal Al-Tukhaes, how can I make this come true?’ What would you say to him?

In my opinion, there is no one that is 100 percent the same as someone else, but careful planning, perseverance, searching and knowledge are the most important success factors.

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