With this growing trend in mind, ATHR gallery recently exhibited contemporary works in an exhibition titled, “Young Saudi Artists Exhibition.”
The exhibition, which opened on Jan.12 and continues until Feb. 15, features artworks in a range of styles and mediums from photography, sketches, art installations, print on canvas and digital media.
Chief guest, Abdul Aziz Khoja, minister of culture and information, opened the exhibition to an overwhelming, cosmo-savvy young crowd. The gathering was energetic, upbeat and interactive, reflecting a very progressive phenomena of the young artistic movement. There was a certain yearning for understanding new ideas and consciousness that the artists’ representation managed to evoke. It was contemporary, thought-provoking, deeply cultural and embodied the present state of affairs the Saudi society is grappling with.
“The response was very positive. People were waiting to see new ideas from the young generation. It is a huge opening for youngsters to show their potential and creativity,” said Maya El Khalil, manager at ATHR gallery. She believes that young Saudis have a lot to say and have the capability of developing concepts that are quite deep.
The 18 artists who displayed their works were: Badriya Abdallah, Sara Abdu, Faisal Abu Al-Adel, Reem Bajabaa, Huda Beydoun, Nada Hakeem, Sami Jeraidi, Amna Kamel, Eyad Maghazil, Sa’ad bin Mohammed, Saleh Al-Shehri, Saud Al-Saud, Yousef Al-Shaikh, Nasser Al-Salim, Majed Al-Thebeiti, Talal Al-Toghais, Khalid Zahid and Salwa Zahid.
“It is part of the ATHR mission to introduce new and young Saudi artists every year with the hope of encouraging new talents into the art market,” said Hamza S. Athr, co-founder of ATHR Gallery.
The artists for this year’s exhibition were spotted through various forums, word of mouth as well as through the gallery’s website, which encourages local artists to post their art profiles. A committee was then set up for further screening and the artists were chosen on the basis of both talent and their commitment toward their artwork. For its next exhibition, the gallery plans to host a more extensive screening process through public forums.
Images do not merely serve the function of visual beauty, but the opportunity to a future of possibilities. The most prominent elements that were evident in most of the works were the local cultural influences and the relativity of social issues that were envisaged through a contemporary artist’s eye. It almost seemed like there was an immediate urge to represent their ideology and cultural epoch, defying the long history of silence and harsher judgments they have been at the receiving end of.
A particular art installation by Badriya Abdullah addressed the very serious issue of car accidents in Jeddah as a result of speeding.
Artist Huda Beydoun with her print on canvas artwork, “No Signal,” explored the issues of television censorship — a visual imagery that is almost a suggestive representation of the Mickey Mouse culture.
Sarah Saeid, a young 32-year-old art admirer remarked: “The art scene is building in Saudi Arabia. The crowd is very young and appreciative of contemporary art and this will definitely serve to encourage the young artists for the future.”
Prince Saud Al Saud displayed his photographic collection titled “Outer Beauty,” which was a philosophical take on the value man places on extrinsic qualities. “I was both excited and scared. I wondered if people would get the idea my pictures are trying to express, but I am happy to learn that it is well appreciated.”
Nada Hakeem who displayed an acrylic on canvas collection titled “Musicians,” said: "It is an honorable experience for me as an artist. It is a groundbreaking exhibition, marking a new era of art in Saudi Arabia.”
All the artists sold some parts of their work at the first day of opening with some having sold all the editions. With most buyers from the Gulf region and Europe, the spotlight seems to be on Saudi art at the moment, with most works being exhibited outside Saudi Arabia — as was recently the case with Edge of Arabia in Istanbul.
“Artists should be able to sell their work at the end of the day,” said Athr. “It provides a means for the artist to survive and to be able to produce new work. A collector realizes this and it is his expression of supporting the work of the artist. Hence, we tried to keep the prices real where each piece was slated between SR2,500 and SR20,000.”
A huge misconception among the new generation of entrepreneurial collectors is that most gallery works are fancy priced, owing to the post-production costs.
“If the prices here at ATHR have to be compared with any other art gallery in the world, one will see that they are very nominal. Also, the work that we produce here are museum quality, at par with most international galleries,” added Athr.
The artistic medium in Saudi Arabia is emerging as a strong platform for the exchange of ideas and discussion of opinions, opening up a huge potential for educated dialogue among young Saudis.
"This exhibition's success was due to the passion and positive energy employed by all the parts involved. We're very happy with the outcome and all is due to outstanding and dynamic efforts,” said Dalal Hussein, art coordinator at ATHR gallery.
