Fifty-four female artists, 36 Saudis and 18 Indians displayed their works at an art show inaugurated by Princess Adela bint Abdullah, chairperson, Consultative Committee of National Museum in Riyadh on Saturday.The opening was attended by more than 300 guests.
"The show is a pioneering venture that has created a people-to-people bond between the two countries," Ahmad said, pointing out that cultural relations is an important element in bilateral relations.
The event which will be held until May 27, has been jointly organized by the Consultative Committee of the National Museum and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
Among the 18 Indian women artists 15 hail from different parts of India, including remote villages and three are Indians based in Riyadh. They have displayed different types of artwork that include paintings, water color, acrylic, sculpture, metal, wood and resin and marble.
Adittee Garg, Indian artist, told Arab News that she was happy that she got an opportunity to participate in the first ever joint display of art by both Saudi and Indian women.
"After coming to Saudi Arabia, my whole concept about the Kingdom has changed. People gave me the impression that this is only a desert land," Garg said, adding that she was surprised when she met Saudi women who have excelled in their aesthetic studies. Most of them have postgraduate degrees in various fields of study, she noted. Saudi women are pleasant in their dealings with foreign women, the Indian artist said, indicating they are a lot with good education and polite manners coupled with excellent communication skills and refined culture.
"If I am given an opportunity, I will settle in the Kingdom," Garg said.
Speaking about her works, Garg said: "I capture the essence of the human form and spirit in its sensuous aspects. Form consists of features and meaning is made up of values."
She said the main subjects of her sculptures include women's silence, pain, wounds and devotion. However, she said she would like to keep away from the world of conflict and her imagery is both positive and constructive.
"I take a holistic view of life that appeals to our senses and our hearts," she concluded.
The Indian artists are also slated to address workshops organized for students at King Saud University and Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman Women's University in Riyadh.
