Saudi artist Rana Alsaggaf: ‘I hope my work inspires people to explore these places’ 

'Makkah Gate' by Rana Alsaggaf. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 20 March 2025
Follow

Saudi artist Rana Alsaggaf: ‘I hope my work inspires people to explore these places’ 

  • The Saudi artist’s sketches of landmarks from her homeland are on display at the Islamic Arts Biennale

JEDDAH: Rana Alsaggaf has carved her own space in the Saudi art scene with her intricate sketches of landmarks from across the Kingdom. With a background in interior design and master’s degrees in entrepreneurship and innovation as well as international art and culture management, her practice is deeply rooted in both technical knowledge and a passion for heritage. 




Rana Alsaggaf. (Supplied)

Recently, she had the honor of showcasing her work at the second Islamic Art Biennale in Jeddah, an experience she describes as both meaningful and humbling. 

“It’s an opportunity to present my work in a space that celebrates the intersection of faith, culture, and artistic expression,” she told Arab News. 

Alsaggaf is showcasing “Sacred Journeys” at the biennale, which runs until May 25. It is a collection of works that visually narrate the journey from Jeddah to Makkah, a path traveled by millions of pilgrims. It was installed at the Jeddah Airport Pilgrims Gateway, a setting that naturally resonated with the work. 




'Bab Al-Salam Gate.' (Supplied)  

“This route is more than just a road, it is a transition into a sacred experience,” Alsaggaf explained. “By sketching its key landmarks, I wanted to highlight the gateways that pilgrims pass through on their way to Makkah. I hope my work inspires people to explore these places and to connect with their history in a way that feels tangible and relevant today.” 

Alsaggaf’s artistic process always begins with firsthand exploration. She visits the sites, sketches on location whenever possible, and refines her compositions by focusing on perspective, architectural details, and the emotions these places evoke. Research also plays a key role in her work; she digs into the history of each landmark, uncovering stories that add depth to the experience. 

To enhance this connection, with each artwork she includes a card sharing insights about the location. By keeping her color palette minimal, she ensures the focus remains on the form, history, and character of each landmark. 




'Historic city wall of Jeddah' by Rana Alsaggaf. (Supplied)

Alsaggaf chose to highlight the pilgrimage gates because of their historical and functional significance, as well as their strong connection to the Islamic Art Biennale’s location. 

“These gates mark important entry points for travelers and pilgrims, making them both symbolic and relevant. Each one represents a threshold, a moment of arrival and transition on the journey to Makkah,” she said. 

Through her art, Alsaggaf hopes to spark curiosity and inspire people to visit these sites, experiencing their significance firsthand. “I want my sketches to create a sense of connection,” she stated. To enhance this connection, she draws from an eye-level perspective, making viewers feel as though they are standing right in front of the landmarks. Her illustrations act as a bridge between the past and present, preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Hajj. 

“These places are not just remnants of the past; they continue to welcome travelers and pilgrims every day. Through my art, I want to ensure they remain part of our cultural dialogue,” Alsaggaf said. 

While her work is rooted in direct observation, Alsaggaf takes care to research each site’s historical context. However, rather than reconstructing what no longer exists, she prefers to depict landmarks as they stand today, emphasizing their continued presence and relevance. 

“The biggest challenge is capturing the depth of the experience in a way that feels immediate and real. I wanted my sketches to reflect the emotional weight of the journey while staying true to the landmarks’ current state,” she explained. “Balancing simplicity with meaning was key.” 

Jeddah’s Rawasheen, the intricately carved wooden balconies found on historic buildings, have been a recurring theme in Alsaggaf’s work. Beyond their striking appearance, they represent the layered history of Jeddah as a gateway for travelers and pilgrims. 

“For me, they are windows into the soul of the city, reflecting both its past and its living heritage,” she said. 

These ornate facades are a symbol of craftsmanship, cultural exchange, and architectural identity — elements that Alsaggaf is passionate about preserving through her sketches. 




'The Pilgrim's Gateway' by Rana Alsaggaf. (Supplied)

Alsaggaf uses her Instagram page, Wings Over Saudi, to share her art — which includes paintings as well as sketches — with a wider audience. The name was inspired by a legendary Jeddah folktale involving seagulls, and reflects her artistic vision of movement, exploration, and perspective. 

“It represents the way I approach my art, not just as static images, but as invitations to discover Saudi’s landscapes, cities, and cultural landmarks,” she explained. 

Her collection of paintings titled “Reflections of Jeddah” is a tribute to the coastal city’s historic streets. Created in her studio within Jeddah’s heritage district, the series captures the play of light, shadow, and intricate designs that define its acclaimed architecture. 

“Through these works, I aim to preserve Jeddah’s historic charm while celebrating its enduring cultural significance,” she said. 

Another series, “Sketchbook Journey,” highlights the wider Kingdom’s diverse architecture, from grand mosques to ancient alleyways.  

“Each piece in this series honors Saudi Arabia’s architectural legacy, preserving its beauty for future generations while encouraging a deeper appreciation for the artistry and heritage that define the Kingdom,” she said. 

Alsaggaf sees endless opportunities to continue exploring and documenting her homeland.  

“There are so many incredible landmarks still to capture,” she said. “I want to keep sketching, discovering, and sharing the beauty of these places with others.” 


Jennifer Lopez turns heads at F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 

Updated 20 April 2025
Follow

Jennifer Lopez turns heads at F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 

JEDDAH: US superstar Jennifer Lopez turned heads at the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah ahead of her after-race performance.

The “Kiss of the Spider Woman” actress and singer made an appearance at the final practice on Saturday in a pink catsuit with a zipper down the front.

She performed on stage on Saturday night with a string of her most famous hits as part of an after-race concert lineup including Usher, Major Lazer, Peggy Gou and PartyNextDoor, alongside Arab stars such as Marwan Pablo, Tul8te, Hisham Abbas, Mostafa Amar and Hamid El-Shaeri.

Jennifer Lopez performed in Jeddah on Saturday night. (Supplied)

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential entertainers, Lopez has made her mark across music, film and television. She remains the only female artist to simultaneously top both the US box office and music charts, with over $3 billion in global box office earnings, more than 80 million records sold and billions of streams and views across her music catalogue.


Japan’s Koji Yamamura brings expertise to Saudi Film Festival masterclass

Updated 20 April 2025
Follow

Japan’s Koji Yamamura brings expertise to Saudi Film Festival masterclass

DHAHRAN: Animation lovers attending the 11th Saudi Film Festival this week were treated to a masterclass by Oscar-nominated Japanese director Koji Yamamura.

Yamamura gave a masterclass titled “Giving Shape to Invisible Light” on Saturday.

While the Saudi Film Festival typically focuses on local and regional cinema, it also offers audiences a chance to engage with global voices. This year, Japan holds a special place in the lineup, with the festival running until April 23.

Masterclass attendees watched as Yamamura explained his process and shared several of his shorts, which he dissected, offering guidance and insight into his creative approach.

Yamamura, regarded as one of Japan’s most successful animation filmmakers, began creating films at just 13 years old. After six painstaking years and thousands of drawings, his 10-minute 2002 film “Mt. Head” earned him an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Film category.

The story follows a man who eats cherry pits to avoid waste, only to have a cherry tree sprout from his head. What begins as a nuisance quickly escalates into chaos as strangers flock to picnic and swim atop his head.

Narrated in the traditional rakugo style — with a single voice and sparse instrumentation — the work blends classical storytelling with modern themes. Beneath the dark humor lies a critique of isolationism, environmental degradation, and the illusion of control. The more the man tries to resist change, the more disorder he invites, leading to a haunting end.

Yamamura explained that many of his works were inspired by traditional tales that are over 150 years-old—stories where the beginning and end are already known — so the creative challenge lies in how he fills the space.

His work moves fluidly between absurdity and clarity, often occupying a Kafkaesque space that encourages the viewer to dive in until the narrative fully takes hold.

After the masterclass, he sat down to answer questions by moderator Naoures Rouissi of the Arab Film Festival Zurich, and the audience was invited to take part in a Q&A portion.

Abdulrahman Al-Qarzaee, a fluent Japanese speaker who is Saudi, translated.

“I’m very interested in Arabic culture. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia — I would like to sketch it. I think the landscape is very different from Japan,” Yamamura told Arab News after the session.

When Arab News asked if he might create a new work inspired by his visit to the Kingdom, he didn’t hesitate.

“Probably, yeah. This is a very special and different experience for me,” he concluded with a smile.


Saudi comedy film ‘Ambulance’ to get sequel

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

Saudi comedy film ‘Ambulance’ to get sequel

DUBAI: A sequel is already in the works for “Esaaf” (“Ambulance”), the new comedy starring Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj and directed by British filmmaker Colin Teague.

The film premiered on Tuesday, making history as the first Arabic-language movie to be released by Imax. 

The plot revolves around two Saudi paramedics who discover a briefcase containing holding SR2 million (around $533,300) and find themselves caught up in a dangerous kidnapping scheme.

The movie is written by Alberto Lopez and produced by Al-Hajjaj’s House of Comedy, Saudi producer Talal Anazi’s Black Light Operations and former MBC Studios chief Peter Smith in tandem with Saudi Media Company. 

The film marks Al-Hajjaj’s first major release since “Sattar,” the 2023 wrestling film which grossed over $30 million, primarily from Saudi audiences.


Princess Rajwa, Prince Hussein visit historic site in Jordan

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

Princess Rajwa, Prince Hussein visit historic site in Jordan

DUBAI: Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan opted for a relaxed look this week when she visited the archaeological site of Umm Qais with her husband, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah.

Rajwa, who is of Saudi origin, wore beige Atelier canvas straight-leg cargo pants by Jacquemus, paired with a black fitted top and matching Prada re-edition 2005 nylon bag. She completed her look with Gentle Monster’s Musee 01 sunglasses.

The crown prince also kept it casual in a plain white T-shirt, olive green cargo shorts and sunglasses.

Bin Abdullah took to Instagram to share a heartwarming photo with his wife taken during their visit.

“There is nothing like spring in the north of Jordan,” read the caption.

The couple also made headlines this week as their eight-month-old daughter, Princess Iman bint Al-Hussein, marked a significant milestone when she accompanied them to the Kingdom of Bahrain on her first official overseas visit.

The young princess was received by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa at Al-Sakhir Palace. (Instagram)

The young princess was received by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa at Al-Sakhir Palace.

Princess Rajwa opted for a white-and-blue ensemble from London-based fashion label Erdem for the occasion. This included a floral midi pencil skirt and a draped short-sleeved top. She completed the look with white lace slingback pumps from Manolo Blahnik and a Jacquemus shoulder bag.

Last month, Crown Prince Hussein took to Instagram to mark Mother’s Day with a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Queen Rania, and Princess Rajwa.

In the first of two images, Queen Rania is holding her granddaughter, Princess Iman, as the crown prince watches on.

In the second image, Princess Rajwa, dressed in a plain white t-shirt, is seen holding her daughter.

“To my beloved mother and my loving wife, your presence fills our lives with joy, and your love is the true meaning of giving. Happy Mother’s Day,” he wrote.

The royal couple welcomed Iman in August last year.

They are also active in their humanitarian efforts. During Ramadan, they visited the Children’s Museum Jordan to attend an iftar event with orphans.

They spent time with the children, playing games, sharing a meal and engaging in conversation. The couple also posed for photos with the young attendees.


At Art Dubai, Pakistani artists find the space missing at home

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

At Art Dubai, Pakistani artists find the space missing at home

  • The Middle East’s leading art fair draws galleries and collectors from around the world
  • Pakistani artists say global interest is rising in their work, bringing international recognition

KARACHI: Pakistani artists have been receiving increasing international recognition, but many still grapple with limited opportunities and visibility at home, a participant at a major Gulf art fair said this week.
Her comments coincided with Art Dubai 2025, the Middle East’s leading contemporary art fair, where 10 Pakistani artists are exhibiting their work this year.
The event, running since 2007, draws galleries and collectors from across the globe and has become a vital platform for people with creative abilities in places like Pakistan.
“It’s wonderful that we as artists who have been invisible because of the greater struggles of [our] country are visible through this platform in the Gulf,” said Faiza Butt, a London-based Pakistani artist currently attending the fair, told Arab News over the phone.

Artist Faiza Butt poses against the backdrop of her artwork ‘The Male Figure’ during the Art Dubai 2025 preview at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on April 17, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Handout/Grosvenor Gallery)

“It’s really a matter of pride that despite all the odds, Pakistani artists continue to appear, and work and make themselves visible, especially female artists.”
Butt maintained Pakistani artists are shaped by the country’s complex realities, adding that is what gives their work its depth.
“Our social and political struggles really feed the artists’ imagination,” she said. “Art doesn’t come from a happy place. So one of the reasons our artists are so strong is because our country has gone through a great deal of strife.”
She also credited the country’s mature art education institutions, such as the National College of Arts in Lahore and the Indus Valley School of Arts in Karachi, for nurturing generations of artists despite systemic challenges.

Artwork ‘The Male Figure’ by Pakistani artists Anwar Saeed and Faiza Butt on display by Grosvenor Gallery during the Art Dubai 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. (Photo courtesy: Handout/Grosvenor Gallery)

Karachi-based visual artist Sana Arjumand, who is also exhibiting at the fair, echoed similar views.
“There is now more and more interest coming into Pakistani art because we are really making very good art,” she said.
“Because of so many different experiences here [in Pakistan], we have that informed kind of making of art. It’s more vibrant and alive. It stands out as well — that is why more and more interest is coming here.”
Arjumand, who studied painting at NCA, said her early work focused on self-reflection but has since evolved to include themes of Sufism, mysticism and human interconnectedness with nature.
Her new work, presented at the fair, explores the idea that human behavior mirrors elements in the natural world.
“It’s for everyone,” she said. “It has a storyline that anybody can relate to.”
A total of ten Pakistani artists, including one posthumously, are featured in the fair’s Contemporary Art section. Among them is the late Sadequain, whose pioneering calligraphy and figurative works helped define Pakistan’s post-Partition art movement and continue to influence generations of artists.

Sana Arjumand’s painting ‘The Perfect Mirror’ on display by Aicon Gallery at Booth E5 as they set up for the Art Dubai 2025 preview at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on April 16, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Handout/Sana Arjumand Studio)

Also exhibiting are Rasheed Araeen, a Karachi-born conceptualist known internationally for his contributions to British minimalist and postcolonial art, and Imran Qureshi, whose fusion of classical Mughal miniature techniques with contemporary themes has earned him acclaim worldwide.
Other featured names include Anwar Saeed, celebrated for his explorations of identity and sexuality, and Shezad Dawood, a London-based multidisciplinary artist with Pakistani and Indian heritage.
Butt is being represented by Grosvenor Gallery in London, which is exhibiting her work alongside that of Anwar Saeed under a shared curatorial concept focused on representations of the male form.
“The female figure is represented enough in the arts,” said Butt. “Anwar and I both discuss the male form but with our own unique politics based on our unique ethnography. But we are both Pakistanis, and there are overlaps in our concerns.”
She will also deliver a talk on behalf of Saeed, reflecting on his practice and political engagement through art.
Despite global attention, Butt stressed that Pakistan lacks the institutional and financial infrastructure to support a thriving art scene.
“Art is a very priced project, and Pakistan cannot afford having art fairs or a very established art market,” she said. “Pakistani artists get absorbed by galleries from other countries.”
She described Art Dubai as a great opportunity for artists in her country.
“Dubai is a very stable financial hub of the Gulf region,” she continued. “It has welcomed a great deal of migration from India and Pakistan. You get a diverse audience. It’s a beautiful coming together, in a positive way, of ideas, culture and exchange of thought.”