Emerging Saudi artist opens first gallery

Munerah Abdullah Abaalkhail, a young Saudi woman aged 24 and member of the royal family, opened her first gallery with paintings at the InterContinental Hotel in Jeddah on Monday evening.
The people attending the VIP opening included members of the royal family, press, and guests from other GCC states.
Most of the 32 paintings on display show Arabian horses and women. “I want to depict the Arabian heritage and culture through these paintings of horses,” Abaalkhail commented. She said the promotion of Saudi heritage was one of her main objectives.
Moreover, the paintings will be imbedded in her poems, a collection of which will soon be published, during her next gallery.
The young artist said her own horses provided much inspiration for her, but added she would also focus on other topics during subsequent galleries.
Invitees to the opening received her paintings with enthusiasm: “I would like to buy five of these paintings for my home. They are perfect, especially the more abstract ones,” said Ahmed Al-Kanani, a visitor.
Others were mainly impressed by the fact that every painting featured its own style.
“She’s very talented, because she uses different techniques,” said Belinda Aquino, a Filipino expatriate working in Jeddah. “Every painting is unique and tells a different story,” said Layali Al-Saud, a cousin of Abaalkhail.
The exhibition will be opened for the public until tomorrow at the InterContinental Hotel. The paintings are also for sale, with prices ranging between SR 10,000 to SR 15,000.