RIYADH: The “Art Across the Arabian Gulf,” exhibition, which runs until March 31 at Misk Art Institute, narrates the cultural and economic history of the Gulf between the 1950s and the 1990s through paintings, sculptures and conceptual installations.
The show features more than 150 works by 78 artists and is split into five themes: cultural heritage and development; maritime heritage; conflict and resilience; abstraction and textual expression; and materiality and experimentation.
Basmah Alshathry, Misk’s chief curator, told Arab News: “We looked at the research — or the lack thereof — on Saudi’s art history. We started to learn more about art across the GCC. We went on studio visits, we went to every single (Gulf) country, met the artists, met institutions, collectors, and really wanted to understand their history. We are hungry to know more about ourselves, and these artists created our legacy. They created the visual vocabulary that future generations are going to look back on. The worst thing we can possibly do is marginalize the artists and put them in a box, so we dig deeper.”
Saudi sculptor Ali Atokhais' 1986 work 'Sculptural Form.' (Supplied)
Through their research, Alshathry and her team uncovered chapters of their own histories.
“I’m from Najd, from Riyadh,” she said. “I never really lived near the water, so it was fascinating to understand how the Gulf itself actually affected the population around it.”
Significant events of the time — including decolonization, the Gulf War, and other regional conflicts — were reflected in artists’ depictions, whether of their own internal conflicts or external conflicts they witnessed. “We also wanted to look at moments of vulnerability and how artists were resilient,” Alshathry explained.
'Almajrour Dance,' a work by Saudi artist Abdullah Hammas. (Supplied)
The abstract section of the show is, Alshathry believes, an important contribution to the documentation of the history of art in the Gulf. ““We have a beautiful collection of abstract works that are exhibited here from all around the (Gulf),” she said. “We’re trying to contribute further to the writings of that and really trying to read these artworks and investigate further.”
Saudi sculptor Ali Altokhais is one of the participating artists. His work centers around family bonds and human relationships, creating a picture of warmth, harmony, and connection inspired by shared experiences.
“Stones are often overlooked — things you pass without paying attention,” he told Arab News. “But when someone shapes them, removes certain areas, adds roughness or smoothness, and polishes them, the stone gives a wide range of impressions.” Everyone sees something different based on their background, he added.
'Building of Ships' a 1978 work by Bahraini artist Abdullah Al-Muharraqi. (Supplied)
Omani artist Hussain Obaid spoke about his recent work, which focuses on walls. “I look for things that take me back to childhood, when we used to write on walls,” he explained. “These memories and visuals, I try as much as possible to bring them back, but with a contemporary spirit.”
Obaid said that he aims to create a dialogue between the viewer and the artwork. “The more the viewer explores, the more they find themselves within the work. I feel that whenever I present an artistic experiment intertwined with history and achievement, it becomes a foundation for new experiences and for generations to come.”
His works on show at Misk date back to the 1990s, and are “somewhat surrealist,” he said, adding that he was influenced by the Venetian School at the time.
'Building of Ships' a 1978 work by Bahraini artist Abdullah Al-Muharraqi. (Supplied)
Obaid’s fellow Omani artist Saif Alamri specializes in printmaking, which he described as “a vast and historic field with many techniques.”
He continued: “I focused my interest on this practice because it is truly beautiful. Yes, it is demanding, but it is also exciting, full of passion. Every day, you discover new worlds through this medium. It is completely different from other visual art fields.
“An artist carries a noble message — first and foremost a human message. Most of my works speak about humanity: displacement, loss, and the tragedies of war, which innocent people end up paying the price for.”
Ultimately the thread that links all the artists featured in the show — whether they are well-known or less-familiar names — is that they have made significant historical contributions to the Gulf’s art scene. “Art Across the Arabian Gulf” is, Alshathry said, “an invitation for a larger audience to start documenting with us.”
