RIYADH: A Saudi visual artist is wowing visitors to the Kingdom’s annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival with her work depicting the traditional Bedouin way of life.
Zaina Al-Shehri’s paintings feature camels, traditional Bedouin homes, and vehicles that they drive in the desert.
The paintings teach viewers about the varieties of camel. (AN photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)
“It is my first-time taking part in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, and I am grateful for the invitation and the chance to present the cultural legacy via visual art,” she told Arab News.
Each of her oil-on-canvas pieces, usually commissioned by clients, can take up to five days to complete. “My artwork highlight the characteristics of both the camel and the camel festival,” she said.
Zaina Al-Shehri. (AN photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)
Al-Shehri is inspired by camels’ long eyelashes, broad throats, and stunning necks, which prompt her to pick up her paintbrush. “Camels are among the creatures described in the Qur’an, which makes them intriguing and fascinating subjects for painters,” she said.
Her paintings teach viewers about the various breeds and varieties of camel, which are an integral part of the culture of the Arabian Peninsula.
Zaina Al-Shehri’s latest painting was the winning camel the won the title of ‘Jewl of the desert’ contest in the King Abdulaziz Camel festival. (AN photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)
“My love for camels is a love from childhood. It was an inseparable part and basis of my ancestors’ movement and is still a symbol of heritage in all regions of the Kingdom,” she said.
Al-Shehri has taken part in numerous events that celebrate the Bedouin way of life, such as the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, as well as gatherings in Qatar and Egypt.
“I believe that people should be made aware of our wonderful culture and tradition since, to us, camels are more than simply an animal — they are beings we coexist with and share life with, much like companions,” she said.
The festival, in Ar Rumahiyah in Riyadh Province, concludes on Jan. 15.
