Saudi artistry blooms in floral sculptures

Sara Abdullah’s two art collections, Alstroemeria (2024) and Anemone (2023), are each dedicated to the spotlighted flower. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 May 2024
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Saudi artistry blooms in floral sculptures

  • To the artist, nature signifies creativity, inspiration and deep magical meaning, she told Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi artist Sara Abdullah’s delicate floral sculptures find inspiration in the nuances and harmony between humanity and nature.

To the artist, nature signifies creativity, inspiration and deep magical meaning, she told Arab News.

“Both (art and nature) are means of exploring the deeper aspects of the human existence. As artists, we can capture and express the intangible aspects of our lives that defy simple verbal descriptions,” she said.




Sara Abdullah’s two art collections, Alstroemeria (2024) and Anemone (2023), are each dedicated to the spotlighted flower. (Supplied)

Abdullah credits her artistry to her role model, her father, who introduced her to a multifaceted world of art at a young age.

“My story is like my dad’s — we started by painting characters and self-portraits but eventually transitioned to creating nature artwork,” she said.

“My father’s deep love for art and trying to convey his artistic message to the world is what makes me continue to search more for the deep meaning between art and nature and how to transform my ideas into a valuable work of art that includes a purposeful message that touches people.”




Sara Abdullah’s two art collections, Alstroemeria (2024) and Anemone (2023), are each dedicated to the spotlighted flower. (Supplied)

Her two art collections, Alstroemeria (2024) and Anemone (2023), are each dedicated to the spotlighted flower.

In the Alstroemeria collection, her sculptures begin with the design of the wood base, which is curved to reflect the feeling of containment and support.

She handcrafts pieces of the flower with twisted and connected edges, representing the petals from the beginning of their life until their flowering.

“Its distinction lies in its longevity among the flowers, and this is what adds to the true meaning of the artwork, which is connection, stability, love, friendship … feelings and bonds that are established after a long period of relationship,” the artist explained.

The message of the artwork is the “close connections and depth of feelings between people and the ability to support and contain each other as we go through life’s experiences.”

Abdullah describes her Anemone collection as “nature embodied in abstract sculptures … a harmonious dance between light and shadow.”

The wildflower has long inspired artists and storytellers, appearing in various works of Arabic literature, including in poems, stories and folk tales.

Anemone flowers generally grow open and wide, with a dark center.

Through this collection of sculptural works, Abdullah embodies the feeling of joy accompanied with dancing.

“When something happy happens in your life, then you start dancing as if you seem to be dancing lightly in the open air and you feel that you are open to the world due to the influence of this happiness. This simile reflects when you see the cold and light wind between the flowers, making them sway between each other lightly,” she said.

“When I prepare to create an art collection, I always try to choose pastel colors that are calm and comfortable to look at as natural colors, in addition to using materials to highlight some pieces or lines in the painting, which adds a three-dimensional touch to the artwork.”

Abdullah also described her outlook on life: “Try to deal with life as if you are like a flower that grows in its beautiful shape … and no matter how the wind blows on her at the end, she blooms beautifully again. Be always like flowers bloom.”

 

 


Saudi aid efforts continue in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon

Updated 23 December 2024
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Saudi aid efforts continue in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief’s humanitarian initiatives are benefiting thousands across Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

In northern Syria, KSrelief delivered food baskets and hygiene kits to 551 earthquake-affected families in Aleppo, benefiting 3,306 individuals in one day.

In Yemen, 641 food baskets were distributed to vulnerable families in Aden and Lahij, assisting 4,487 individuals in one day.

KSrelief also concluded a week-long urology surgery project in Aden, involving nine specialists who examined 53 cases and performed 109 surgeries.

In Taiz, KSrelief’s rehabilitation center provided 1,537 services to 416 beneficiaries in one month, including prosthetic limb fittings, maintenance, physical therapy, and consultations.

In Lebanon, the KSrelief-funded Subul Al-Salam ambulance service conducted 51 missions in Miniyeh in one week, offering emergency aid to Syrian and Palestinian refugees and host communities.

Additionally, KSrelief distributed 175,000 bread bags to 12,500 families in one week through the Al-Amal Charity Bakery project in Akkar and Miniyeh.


New boot camps focus on data center training

Updated 23 December 2024
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New boot camps focus on data center training

  • The program aims to produce skilled national talent for managing advanced data centers

Riyadh: Tuwaiq Academy has partnered with the Uptime Institute to offer six-month professional boot camps at its headquarters in Riyadh.

The program aims to produce skilled national talent for managing advanced data centers across various sectors, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.

The initiative addresses labor market needs in data-related fields, including data center management, analysis, and project design, by offering intensive boot camps with globally recognized certifications.

Training follows a hands-on, application-based approach in specialized data center management labs, equipping participants with essential skills to develop innovative solutions for diverse sectors.

Registration is open at tuwaiq.edu.sa.

Founded in 2019, Tuwaiq Academy trains over 1,000 in-person participants daily and provides professional certifications in collaboration with global leaders like Apple, Meta, Amazon, Alibaba, Dell, IBM, and Microsoft.

As the training arm of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, the academy has trained over 32,000 people, with 80 percent of graduates securing placements through its Tuwaiq Job Fair, in collaboration with government and private sectors.


Saudi royal reserve launches 45-day Naylat Camp in Hail

Updated 23 December 2024
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Saudi royal reserve launches 45-day Naylat Camp in Hail

RIYADH: The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has launched Naylat Camp, a 45-day event in the Hail region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Located in the breathtaking Naylat area, renowned for its soaring mountains, golden sands, clear skies and tranquility, the camp offers a mix of adventure and relaxation.

Visitors can enjoy camel and horse riding, challenging hiking trails, stargazing, and exploring archaeological and historical sites within the reserve.

The camp features facilities designed to enhance the visitor experience while promoting sustainable ecotourism, according to SPA.

The initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism by showcasing the region’s natural beauty, raising environmental awareness about preserving biodiversity, and supporting the local community through seasonal job opportunities and regional development.

The King Salman reserve covers an area of 130,700 sq. km, spanning four administrative regions: Al-Jawf, Hail, Northern Borders and Tabuk. It features diverse natural habitats, terrains and distinctive geographic formations.


Saudi Arabia embassy resumes diplomatic activities in Afghanistan

Updated 23 December 2024
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Saudi Arabia embassy resumes diplomatic activities in Afghanistan

  • Afghan foreign ministry welcomes Kingdom’s decision to resume diplomatic operations in Kabul
  • Saudi Arabia to 'provide all services to the brotherly Afghan people'

RIYADH: The Saudi embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, resumed its diplomatic activities on Sunday.

The Afghan foreign ministry on Monday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to resume its diplomatic operations in Kabul, more than three years after Riyadh withdrew its staff during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

“We are optimistic about the possibility of strengthening relations and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan through the resumption of these activities,” said Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad in a statement.

“We will also be able to respond to the problems of Afghans residing in Saudi Arabia.”

Riyadh had posted its decision to resume diplomatic operations in Kabul on social media platform X on Sunday.

“Based on the desire of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide all services to the brotherly Afghan people, it has been decided to resume the activities of the mission of the Kingdom in Kabul starting on December 22,” it said.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan date back to 1932 when the Kingdom became the first Islamic country to provide aid to the Afghan people during their ordeals.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia launched numerous projects in Afghanistan through its humanitarian arm King Salman Relief Center, focusing on aid relief, health, education services, water and food security.

Riyadh also participated in all international donor conferences and called for establishing security and stability in Afghanistan following years of armed conflicts.

Saudi Arabia withdrew its diplomats from Kabul in August 2021 when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal from the country.

However, it said it was resuming consular services in the country in November 2021 and continues to provide aid through KSrelief.


Saudi delegation led by Royal Court advisor meets with Syria’s Al-Sharaa

Updated 23 December 2024
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Saudi delegation led by Royal Court advisor meets with Syria’s Al-Sharaa

  • Earlier this week, Al-Sharaa praised progress made by Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: A Saudi delegation headed by an advisor from the Royal Court met with the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, at the People’s Palace in Syria on Sunday, according to an Al Arabiya report.

Earlier this week, Al-Sharaa praised progress made by Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf countries in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We admire the development in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia’s bold plans and vision, and we aspire to achieve similar progress for Syria,” he told the newspaper’s Bissane El-Cheikh during an interview the the Presidential Palace in Damascus.

“There are many opportunities for cooperation, especially in economic and developmental areas, where we can align our goals,” he added.