ISLAMABAD: Pakistani painter Rabia Zakir, who on women’s day this week became the first international artist to hold a solo show in Madinah, praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” for promoting arts and culture in the kingdom.
Zakir is well known in Islamabad's diplomatic circles for her portraits of Arab leaders, including the Saudi crown prince and members of the royal families of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Her portraits and landscapes hang in 50 embassies in Pakistan, most prominently of Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
In an interview to Arab News via phone from Madinah, Zahir said she had seen a “clear change” in the arts and culture scene in Saudi Arabia “due to special interest of crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman under his vision 2030.”
Her solo show in the kingdom, which she described as a “journey of faith,” was a sign of the changing times.
“I am feeling very proud to become the first female artist from outside Saudi Arabia to present her work in the holy city of Madinah,” Zahir said. “I don’t have words to explain my happiness.”
Pakistani painter, Rabia Zakir (center), can be seen with Saudi artists during her solo exhibition in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on March 8, 2022. (Courtesy: Rabia Zakir)
Giving details of the pieces displayed, Zahir said they included portraits of Saudi leaders and paintings depicting Islamic holy places.
“It has landscape paintings of Haram, Masjid Nabvi, different places in Makkah and Madinah that Muslims visit during their pilgrimage of Hajj and Umrah,” Zakir added.
The artist said she had been approached by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts around six months ago after officials noticed her work on social media.
“They offered to present my work to the Saudi public by organizing a solo exhibition,” she said, adding that the government of Pakistan was not involved in the exhibition, which was a wholly Saudi initiative.
Displayed, the work of Pakistani painter Rabia Zakir who became the first international artist to hold a solo exhibition in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on March 8, 2022. (Courtesy: Rabia Zakir)
Zakir has also been presented with an award by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts for “strengthening Pak-Saudi ties” and will be holding a training workshop for young Saudi artists.
Fatma Ragab, the organizer of the exhibition from the Saudi Arabia Society for Culture, said the body welcomed intellectuals and creators from all over the world.
Displayed, the work of Pakistani painter Rabia Zakir who became the first international artist to hold a solo exhibition in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on March 8, 2022. (Courtesy: Rabia Zakir)
“Zakir’s exhibition, which includes 27 artistic paintings, was a great success and achieved remarkable attendance and admiration from notable personalities, artists, and intellectuals,” she told Arab News in an emailed statement. “It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Saudi nationals to get acquainted closely with the fine art movement in Pakistan and their rich artistic experiences.”
