RIYADH: When abstract artist from the city of Abha, Mohammad Al-Shaya, picks up his paint brush, he creates vibrant works depicting the beauty of Najdi culture and heritage.
Al-Shaya presented 54 artworks in a solo exhibition titled “It Was,” which ended on Thursday at Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh’s Al-Mousa Center for arts.
“In my fourth exhibition, I aimed to show a new form of visual text through my paintings and highlight Najdi culture and identity … the paintings depict buildings and doors of Najdi-style architecture.”
Al-Shaya’s streak of prizes began when he was a middle school student in 1989, winning first place at the 11th World Children Art Exhibition in Japan.
“When I was in middle school, I was drawing the nature of the village I grew up in and the people that surrounded me. My teacher decided to send over my drawing and I won first place at the art exhibition in Japan.”
For the past 25 years, Al-Shaya has taught young artists how to paint.
“Throughout my career as an art teacher, teaching children and students, I have learned and benefited so much. The innocence and playfulness in their work is so inspiring for an artist like me.”
He has taken part in many artistic events inside and outside the Kingdom, and has held four solo exhibitions. He also took part in more than 80 joint exhibitions with artists from various regions of the Kingdom.
Al-Shaya uses three mediums to create color and texture paintings: Oil paint, acrylic and chalk.
“In terms of my artwork, I choose the colors in the spur of the moment. I try to create paintings that provoke emotions in the viewer because that’s what makes a successful piece. The odder and more unusual the color palette is, the more the painting will turn out beautiful and striking.”
Al-Shaya created an abstract painting with the colors purple, yellow and red, featuring the year “2030” on the left and right side.
The painting includes ancient inscriptions written in historical languages in a nod to AlUla’s rock art.
“We (Saudis) have a powerful and beautiful legacy, and as artists we must take an element from that legacy and develop it in our own way. Our country has a great vision, and we must collaborate in this new vision of 2030,” he said.
Gallery manager and art curator of the “It Was” exhibition, Saif Youssef, has worked on more than 20 exhibitions with his team at Ahlam Gallery.
“Al-Shaya’s art combines themes of traditional symbolism in Najd with the abstract in a unique way, using movement and strong colors to create his masterpieces,” he said.
Renowned Saudi artists Abdullah Hammas, Mohamed Al-Ajlan and Abdullah Al-Hebi, along with Al-Shaya’s friends and family, visited the exhibition to see the works.
To see more of Al-Shaya’s artwork, visit his Instagram @mohf2013.
Abha artist draws inspiration from Najdi culture
https://arab.news/gq58b
Abha artist draws inspiration from Najdi culture
- Al-Shaya presented 54 artworks in a solo exhibition titled “It Was”
- For the past 25 years, Al-Shaya has taught young artists how to paint
Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh
- ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan
RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.
Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”
He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”
“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.
The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.
A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
RIYADH: Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.
The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
A version of this story originally appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center
- The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has helped to treat 452 Yemenis, who lost limbs because of the ongoing conflict, at the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Aden governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
A total of 1,407 procedures were completed for men, who made up 65 percent of patients, and women at 35 percent.
In addition, 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent residents.
The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy.
KSrelief continues to provide general and critical care for vulnerable Yemeni people, the SPA reported.
New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve
- Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve
RIYADH: A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled the first detailed list of reptile species in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Conducted by the reserve’s development authority, the study was published in the Amphibian & Reptiles Conservation journal.
Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve. Three species were also newly documented, raising the reserve’s known total to 34.
The research highlighted two endangered species, the Egyptian monitor lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) and the Wolfgangboehmei gecko (Tropicolotes wolfgangboehmei), which both face threats from climate change and human activity, according to the study.
Spanning from November 2022 to October 2023, the study employed tools such as genetic barcoding and highlighted the reserve’s ecological diversity.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program and the Saudi Green Initiative, the study is part of efforts to protect endangered species and sustain wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Researchers recommended enhanced monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.
