RIYADH: The Pure Art Foundation, a cultural institution founded in 1999, is hosting a solo exhibition by Saudi artist Jassim Al-Dhamin until Dec. 14, 2023 in Riyadh, highlighting his latest work.
“Into the Inner Self” explores the relationship between the inner self and the outer world, stressing the importance of dialogue between the two to gain a deeper understanding of existence.
The exhibition presents a collection of Al-Dhamin’s most recent artwork, inviting viewers to undertake their own introspective journey.
Each painting is characterized by vibrant shapes, symbols and colors that come together to create an expressive world that reflects human experiences and encourages meditation as a means of achieving self-awareness, balance and personal fulfillment.
Al-Dhamin was born in 1988 on the island of Tarut in the governorate of Qatif, in eastern Saudi Arabia. His fascination with art began at an early age, and he attributes his confidence to the encouragement of his teachers, especially in primary school.
Although he studied electrical engineering while at university, he never gave up his passion and developed as an artist through research, experimentation and continuous practice in his studio.
Al-Dhamin told Arab News in French that he uses art to explore the inner self and “to ask ethical and existential questions.
“I seek to express my concerns, doubts and dreams.”
To achieve this, he explained, he tries to journey through his memory and “to reimagine it in a visual form.
“I practice it as a kind of celebration. I break down my memories, my dreams and my doubts … I triumph when it takes the form of an image,” he added.
Al-Dhamin’s work seeks to explore the ambiguity of memory, develop a sense of the present and build a solid relationship with the invisible, the tangible and everything in between.
The artist encouraged those in the field to practice honesty in their self-expression and to understand themselves so they can better convey their messages through art.
“The artist must ensure his credibility in the expression of his art. For example, I could paint a tent in the desert, but I don’t like the desert, I don’t live there, but I love and live in the city,” he said.
“I advise artists to pay particular attention to this aspect so that they can be honest in their ways of expression and adopt a correct methodology so that they can express themselves correctly.”
Al-Dhamin’s first exhibition dates back to 2009, when he displayed his work at the Saudi Society for Culture and the Arts, winning first place. He has since then participated in numerous group exhibitions in Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. He won the Acquisition Award for Contemporary Islamic Art from the Ministry of Culture and Information in 2012 and held his first solo exhibition, “Hope,” in 2014.
