KSA sets Guinness record for largest handprint painting

Saudi Arabia entered in the Guinness World Records for the world’s largest handprint painting. The 10,000-square-meter map of Saudi Arabia was made with 1.2 million green handprints on the occasion of Saudi National Day.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Jeddah’s Red Sea Mall under the patronage of Prince Muqrin, second deputy prime minister and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, and his special envoy as the world largest map was presented the king as a gift for the 83rd National Day.
The official of Guinness World Records announced the entry of Saudi Arabia for producing a handprinted largest map of Saudi Arabia in the Guinness World Records at 11 p.m.
Dina Al-Nahdi conceived the project, and created it with the assistance of four artists Ashwaq Dali, Nabil Tahir, Ahmed Najar and Tagreed Wazna.
Al-Nahdi said it was a historic ceremony for her and all Saudi nationals.
Al-Nahdi said: “Producing the world’s largest handprint painting was an honor for us. We are so proud of everyone who helped us. In total 1.5 million people — from officials and elite people to poor and orphans — helped us with environment friendly paint and fabric.”
The map conveys the message that Saudi Arabia is one and united.
"To keep our environment safe we have to be united and keep the country clean," she said.
“We started the project in March and today is the last day. It is a gift of love from all the Saudis to the king. We will give the documentary to King Abdullah the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, so he will see the love and patriotism of the people for the country,” she said.
She said that the material of the largest painting would be distributed among charities as a gift for productive families to make products like bags, cushions, purses and decorations and sell them.
Al-Nahdi said: “My message to the nation is ‘Hand in hand we can keep our country clean, and keeping our country clean is patriotism.’ This was our first project of the campaign and in the future there will be more. Our main target is to teach children how to keep our country clean.”
Talal Omar from Guinness World Records in the Middle East told Arab News that Saudi Arabia won the record of the world largest handprint painting.
Omar said: “The previous record was set by Kuwait on March 5 this year. The record was based on the total area of 6,154 square meters. The map of Saudi Arabia has the size of 10,235 sq.m.
“Our rules state that all the handprints must be put on a canvas and they have to use three different colors of paint. In part environmentally friendly canvas and paint was used, as part of their campaign to promote the importance of protecting the environment. This is a noble cause. Every time we at Guinness World Records witness a new record, we think this is the end. But people keep impressing us.”
The map was made in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Presidency of Metrology and Environment.