Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures

Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
1 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (SPA)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
2 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (SPA)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
3 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (SPA)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
4 / 24
CEO of the Ministry of Culture’s Theater and Performing Arts Commission Sultan Al-Bazie. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
5 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
6 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
7 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
8 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
9 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
10 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
11 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
12 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
13 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
14 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
15 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
16 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
17 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
18 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
19 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
20 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
21 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
22 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
23 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Special Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
24 / 24
The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 24 January 2024
Follow

Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures

Abha festival in Saudi Arabia shines spotlight on world’s mountain cultures
  • Historic sites of the Kingdom hosting local, international dance performances
  • 20 Saudi groups and 25 international groups from countries like Argentina, Spain, Uganda, Mexico and Peru paraded through the streets

JEDDAH: A festival to celebrate the cultural heritage of the world’s mountain regions is leaving a mark on the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the week-long third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts will run until Jan. 27 across eight archaeological sites, showcasing the rich tapestry of mountain performing arts and drawing visitors from around the world.

The festival’s opening day featured an outdoor carnival parade along Prince Sultan Road in Khamis Mushayt. A total of 20 Saudi groups and 25 international groups from countries like Argentina, Spain, Uganda, Mexico and Peru paraded through the streets, presenting more than 40 mountain styles in diverse and colorful costumes.

For centuries, mountainous cultures have maintained traditions in some of the world’s most isolated places, preserving distinctive linguistic and cultural heritage that is rarely seen or heard by wider society. The Saudi cultural extravaganza not only entertained audiences, but also provided a glimpse into some of the oldest traditional dances from around the world.

Following the parade, Sultan Al-Bazie, CEO of the commission, told Arab News: “At the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, we are committed to hosting high-quality cultural events. We firmly believe that the uniqueness of mountain performance arts is unique and internationally recognized.”

The festival, which in 2022 began as a local event for the Kingdom’s mountain regions — from Tabuk in the north to Jazan, Najran and Asir in the south — has evolved into an international platform, creating global cross-cultural dialogue.

The second edition of the festival involved 14 countries and featured 16 Saudi groups presenting traditional dances from across the Kingdom.

This year, in its third edition, the festival further increased the number of countries represented, covering almost all the world’s continents, the commission reported.

Abha, the first city in the Kingdom to win the Capital of Arab Tourism title in 2017, played a significant role in hosting the celebrations.

Al-Bazie said: “The main goal of this event is to draw comparisons between mountain performances around the world. We find many commonalities, whether in rhythms, performances or body movements. This cultural blend between world nations provides diversity, connecting different cultures and giving the Saudi audience in the Asir region a chance to experience performing arts from around the world.”

In the audience was well-known Bahraini YouTuber Omar Al-Farooq, also known as “Omar Tries.” He told Arab News: “Despite traveling to many countries and continents, this massive carnival parade made me realize how vast the world is with its diverse cultures and traditions. I am now excited to visit these countries and explore their arts further.”

He added: “The lively spirit of the Latin American performances was especially beautiful and engaging.

This year’s event features 13 Saudi folk performances from the Asir region, five from Al-Baha, three from Najran, one from Tabuk, one from Madinah, one from Taif and two from Jazan.

Mashari Aseery, a local father of two daughters, said: “The festival was incredible! The energy, the music, and the overall vibe were just amazing. It was such a great way to celebrate our local culture and showcase the performance arts of our ancestors.”

Another Abha local, Salma Al-Malki, who is studying fashion design, said: “I attended the festival for the first time this year, and I was blown away. The organizers did a fantastic job of bringing together a diverse range of performers and activities from around the world. The highlight for me was the fashion area, where I got to explore more about ancient fashion from across the globe.”

The opening night ended with a musical concert with Yemeni singer Fouad Abdulwahed and Lebanese singer Melhem Zein, who captivated a large audience with Lebanese songs and diverse dabke performances.

Dabke, a folklore dance popular across the Levant, and Lebanon in particular, involves performers — both men and women — forming a row, an arc or a circle. The first dancer leads the performance and guides the direction of the group, as well as displays extra motions that showcase his skill.

During the six-day festival, daily performances by 45 Saudi and international groups are taking place in eight heritage villages: Basta Al-Qabil, Shamsan Castle, Bin Adwan Heritage Village, Malik Historical Palace, Al-Mushait Palaces, Al-Abo Sarrah Palaces, the Castles of Abu Nuqata Al-Mutahmi and Bin Hamsan Village.

The villages are also hosting antique shops, live music performances, fashion displays, local food areas, art platforms, children’s activities and more.

The Qemam festival also features seminars and workshops on folkloric traditions, including the history of dabke, among other topics.

The festival has raised awareness of the theater and performing arts sector as a vital cultural field, and has also created job opportunities for talented people in the region.

The commission’s commitment to fostering international cultural exchange aligns with the goals of the National Cultural Strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.

The festival will conclude with a grand carnival parade and a closing musical concert.


Sotheby’s to stage first live auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025

Sotheby’s to stage first live auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025
Updated 07 November 2024
Follow

Sotheby’s to stage first live auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025

Sotheby’s to stage first live auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025
  • The inaugural auction and public exhibition will take place in the Saudi heritage site of Diriyah

DUBAI: Sotheby’s has announced it will stage the first ever live auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025. Taking place in the historic town of Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the Saudi state, located northwest of Riyadh, the auction will offer modern and contemporary artworks, Islamic objects, jewelry, watches, cars, sports memorabilia and handbags, among other items. 

Titled “Origins,” the live auction will take place on Feb. 8, 2025, presenting global offerings and fine art by both home-grown Saudi artists and leading names in international art history.

Ahmed Mater, Untitled (Diptych from The Illumination Series), Offset lithograph and gold leaf on paper with tea and pomegranate toning, 174 by 225cm, 2012. (Courtesy Sotheby's)

The auction will take place as a two-part evening auction and will be preceded by an exhibition of the contents of “Origins,” that will be showcased in a free, public exhibition, open from Feb. 1 – 8.

“This auction - and indeed our incorporation - is the culmination of many years of supporting cultural initiatives in the Kingdom, and a natural evolution of our business,” Edward Gibbs, chairman of Sotheby’s Middle East & India, told Arab News. 

“We have been travelling to Saudi for a number of years, working with clients who are based there, as well as meeting new collectors in the region, and have been supporting the Ministry of Culture’s exciting endeavors –not least with all of the editions of the biennale, where we have provided an educational component, with specialist talks and tours,” he added.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys)

Increasingly, said Gibbs, Sotheby’s saw that Saudi Arabia was a space rife for a growing art market and live auctions, proven by its fast paced development, young demographic, growing collector base and the increasing presence of the regional and international art community.

“The auction comes hand in hand with our opening of an office in Riyadh, so marks a new chapter in our activities in Saudi — a phase that we are entering with great optimism and ambition,” Sebastian Fahey, managing director of Sotheby’s Global Fine Arts, told Arab News. “Alongside the inaugural sale, our activities will also continue to include educational offerings around art, luxury and collecting, as this is something we strongly believe in.”

The auction and exhibition will be staged in the historic Diriyah, the ancestral heart of the nation, where the
First Saudi State was inaugurated just under two decades before Sotheby’s was established in 1744. (Supplied)

“The art market has never been quite so international, and this opening complements our global network, particularly in the Middle East, which has long been a region we have believed in and invested in,” stressed Fahey.

Diriyah is a significant place to stage Saudi Arabia’s first-ever live auction. In the historic town, now developing as one of the Kingdom’s gigaprojects, the First Saudi State was inaugurated just under two decades before Sotheby’s was established in 1744. 

At present, Diriyah is transforming into a local and global hub for art, culture and high profile events in the Kingdom, connecting its past and present through heritage and creativity.


Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
  • As large-scale architectural and design installations take over the Gulf metropolis, the inaugural Dubai Editions is set to offer a mix of art, design and prints to appeal to the city’s changing demographics

DUBAI: Until Nov. 10, visitors to Dubai Design District can relish in riveting large-scale design installations, exhibitions and fairs dedicated to high-end and collectible design objects from the Gulf, wider Middle East and international markets.

The annual event, now in its 10th year, will present over 500 designers, professionals and brands from various creative industries, transforming the bustling UAE metropolis into a global hub for design and art.

Numerous returning elements include Abwab, an annual commission showcasing talents from across Southwest Asia and North Africa, dedicated this year to the theme of vernacular architecture and regenerative design processes through the utilization of local materials, climate-responsive techniques and community-centered designs.

Abwab this year will feature three regional practices that will present their work in pavilions across the Dubai Design District. These include “Present/Absent Mudhif” by Ola Saad Znad from Iraq, portraying the Marsh Arabs’ architectural heritage in Iraq using reeds and ancient Sumerian techniques; “ReRoot” by Jordanian-Palestinian Dima Al Srouri, Andy Cartier from France, Rosa Hamalainen from Finland and Palestinian-Lebanese Dahlia Hamati exploring emergency housing solutions through an ecological lens using palm waste and mycelium; and “Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms” by Miriam Hillawi Abraham from Ethiopia, which draws inspiration from coral stone found in early settlements on the East African coast.

Other notable returning platforms include workshops in the Maker’s Space and the weekend Marketplace, offering one-of-a-kind handcrafted objects and cuisine.

In a dedicated section within the 10th edition of Downtown Design will be the new fair titled Dubai Editions. Featured are over 50 galleries, design studios and collectives from the region and internationally presenting editioned artworks, collectible design objects and furniture and editioned prints.

The new fair reflects the changing demographic of Dubai, Pablo del Val, artistic director of Art Dubai, told Arab News.

“The fair is extremely exciting because it represents the shifts taking place in the city,” said Del Val. “There are many new generations of people that have recently moved to Dubai that have different collecting needs.

“People are beginning to buy properties that are arranged in new ways with different needs,” he added.

Participants include Dubai and New York-based Leila Heller; renowned Lebanese carpetmaker Iwan Maktabi, which opened its new flagship showroom in Dubai’s Jumeirah 3 featuring the first-ever global shop-in-shop for Italian contemporary rug company, cc tapis; Dastan from Tehran; Comptoir de Mines Galerie from Marrakech; Studio Bazazo and Fadi Basbous Studio from Lebanon; and spaces from Dubai, including Gulf Photo Plus, The Urbanist, Meem Gallery and Zawyeh Gallery.

“The fair offers a great concept of presenting works that are less expensive by our artists,” Leila Heller told Arab News. “Our artists became so inspired to create new prints and sculptures that are available in editions. The fair also offers works on paper, so our artists have created smaller works in paper as well.”

Heller will present works by artists such as Farideh Lashai, Reza Aramesh, Keith Haring, Darvish Fakhr, Azza Al Qubaisi and Stephany Sanossian.

Iwan Maktabi is showing a carpet designed by acclaimed Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim. CEO Mohamed Maktabi said they switched their booth from Downtown Design to Dubai Editions and are launching what he calls “Iwan Maktabi: Artist Edition,” presenting the brand’s special carpet collaborations with artists.

While Dubai Design Week will offer much to see and experience, it represents a shift and growth in Dubai’s recent population that has sought out the Gulf city as a new place to call home.

As Del Val put it: “Everything starts to change when you belong to a community where you expect to live for a much longer period of time.

“This (fair) could be an incubator for things to come.”


Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia
Updated 05 November 2024
Follow

Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia
  • Step backstage to experience the creative processes of 10 renowned design studios, where failure fuels creativity

DHAHRAN: As a part of the annual Tanween conference at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, the “Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft” exhibition stands out as a captivating exploration of creativity, resilience and innovation in the world of design.

The exhibition, aligned with the Tanween 2024 theme “Fail Forward,” invites visitors to embrace the beauty of setbacks as vital stepping stones in the creative process.

The exhibition, aligned with the Tanween 2024 theme “Fail Forward,” invites visitors to embrace the beauty of setbacks as vital stepping stones in the creative process.
(Courtesy of Ithra Studios)

Curated and designed in collaboration with Isola Studio, the exhibition showcases the works of 10 internationally acclaimed studios specializing in crafts, circular design and material research, and is on until Nov. 6.

“The idea of staging the exhibition led us to the name ‘Behind the Curtains’ because we want to show what’s behind what you see, through a theater approach,” Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder of Isola Studio, told Arab News.

“We asked studios to display their latest projects, not just the final results, but also the process, including failures, trials, and broken pieces. This highlights that reaching successful design involves going through mistakes and challenges.”

Curated and designed in collaboration with Isola Studio, the exhibition showcases the works of 10 internationally acclaimed studios specializing in crafts, circular design and material research.
(Courtesy of Ithra Studios)

Each studio provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their artistic processes, sharing inspirations, prototypes, and materials that did not make the final cut. This transparency highlighted the essential nature of experimentation in design.

At the heart of the exhibition lies an interactive workshop area, where visitors can partake in hands-on activities including sketching, molding, and experimenting with various materials, allowing them to experience the creative process firsthand. 

This interactive component emphasizes that creativity is often a non-linear journey filled with exploration and discovery.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ithra | (@ithra)

 

The “Fail Forward” theme runs throughout the exhibition, encouraging visitors to see failures as essential learning experiences. By sharing their struggles and lessons, the design studios inspire visitors to embrace their own creative challenges. 

Cavallaro expressed his hopes for visitors, stating: “I want them to understand the importance of taking risks in life to achieve success.”


Hia Hub session highlights vital role of pharmacies in Saudi Arabia’s growing skincare market

Hia Hub session highlights vital role of pharmacies in Saudi Arabia’s growing skincare market
Updated 06 November 2024
Follow

Hia Hub session highlights vital role of pharmacies in Saudi Arabia’s growing skincare market

Hia Hub session highlights vital role of pharmacies in Saudi Arabia’s growing skincare market

RIYADH: Industry leaders discussed the evolving role of pharmacies in skincare during a session at Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle conference, held in Riyadh’s JAX District from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.

The session, titled “Re-Defining the Pharmacy Channels in Skincare,” brought together prominent figures, including Charlotte Devaux, general manager of wellness and masstige, Pierre Juhen, group president of Patyka, Mahmoud Mamdouh, CEO of Whites Pharmacy, and Cynthia Kattar, editorial director of Hia Magazine.

Mamdouh emphasized the pivotal role of trust in pharmacy skincare. He said: “When discussing pharmacies and skincare, the main concept is trust.” 

(AN/ Huda Bashatah)

Over the past 15 years, pharmacies have cultivated strong relationships with customers, who often turn to pharmacists for personalized skincare consultations, he said. 

Devaux added to the discussion by highlighting social media’s impact on consumer behavior.

(AN/ Huda Bashatah)

She said that while platforms such as TikTok and Instagram offered abundant information, consumers still preferred advice from trusted pharmacists. “Wellness has become a priority for consumers, driving the growth of skincare,” she said. “This reliance on pharmacies as credible sources of information and products is crucial in a marketplace filled with conflicting messages.”

Juhen elaborated on the expansive reach of pharmacies. In Saudi Arabia, there are about 6,000 pharmacy locations, compared to 20,000 in France, he said. 

(AN/ Huda Bashatah)

He said that this dynamic retail channel had shown resilience, even during challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where the pharmacy segment in France experienced growth of 4 percent. 

Juhen highlighted the universal appeal of pharmacies and said: “Everyone visits pharmacies, regardless of age or socioeconomic status,” making them essential points of contact in the community.

The session concluded with a consensus among the speakers on the importance of pharmacies in the skincare sector. As trusted providers of personalized advice and quality products, pharmacies were well-positioned to lead the growth of skincare, they said.


Displaced Gazan artists’ work on display in ‘Under Fire’  

Displaced Gazan artists’ work on display in ‘Under Fire’  
Updated 01 November 2024
Follow

Displaced Gazan artists’ work on display in ‘Under Fire’  

Displaced Gazan artists’ work on display in ‘Under Fire’  
  • An exhibition in Amman shows works smuggled out of Gaza during the ongoing Israeli assault 

DUBAI: A couple tenderly embracing each other; a family gathering; a flowering cactus; and a sunset colored in pink, yellow and orange. Such imagery represents some of the delicate drawings produced by four displaced Gazan artists, whose works are currently being showcased at Darat Al-Funun, an art center in Amman.  

Other images on display make for less comfortable viewing: exhausted people with missing limbs; men kneeling blindfolded in their underwear; women and children whose eyes are wide with terror. 

“Under Fire,” which runs until the end of the year, consists of around 80 artworks by Palestinian artists Basel Al-Maqousi, Majed Shala, Raed Issa and Sohail Salem. All four have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing Israeli assault on the Gaza strip, which began in October 2023.  

A piece by Basel Al-Maqousi from the series 'I Draw with Love, not with War.' (Supplied)

For the exhibition’s curator, Mohammad Shaqdih, receiving the artists’ highly-charged artworks proved to be a cathartic experience. “I was following their work on social media, but when (the pieces) reached Amman and I held them in my hands, I cried at first, to be honest,” Shaqdih tells Arab News. “I was in a state of sadness and I don’t know why. While I was looking through them, I would take a drawing and then quickly put it away. There’s so much death, sadness and blood in these works. At the same time, they embody a form of resilience and resistance. They have life.”  

Organizing any art exhibition comes with its own set of challenges, but planning “Under Fire” was exceptionally difficult.  According to Shaqdih, communicating with the artists through messaging applications and having their works transported across the border were the main issues faced by the curatorial team.  

Raed Issa, 'Friends.' (Supplied)

In May and June 2024, around 100 artworks were taken from Gaza to Egypt. In early October, the works reached Jordan. “These works were passing through some conditions that were dangerous. Some of works were damaged or torn apart,” explains Shaqdih. “It was an adventure taking these works out of Gaza, but, thank God, they reached us.”  

The surviving artworks — predominantly sketches and line drawings — were created, by necessity, using the most basic of materials. Raed Issa, for instance, created his figurative images on medical aid packages using tea as a coloring base. Sohail Salem drew intensely-lined pen drawings in school notebooks provided by the UN Relief and Works Agency.  

Al-Maqousi is showcasing a series of drawings of daily life in crowded camps. “He said: ‘These works are not paintings or works of art for people to see or buy. They are a part of our bodies,’” Shaqdih says.   

Sohail Salem, 'Tala Abu Ajwa, Girl Skater.' (Supplied)

Thematically, the artworks — which are being sold to benefit the artists — are simple and touching. They evoke despair, loss and confusion, but there are elements of hope, love and beauty. One of Issa’s images of two young individuals, depicted with unclear features, is slightly enlivened by the red flowers they hold in their hands.  

“When you read the artists’ incredible accompanying statements, they’re full of human feelings,” Shaqdih says. “What they’re saying is that despite everything they’re going through with this genocide, they are still standing strong and resisting even if it’s through the act of drawing the daily massacres. They’re still able to work and express their existence as human beings under all the ugliness in this world. It’s a form of resistance and resilience.” 

Majed Shala, born in Gaza in 1960, is one of the exhibition’s participants. His works in “Under Fire” depict personal memories, scenes of nature, and life under bombardment. 

Shala’s home and studio were destroyed more than a year ago and he lost all of his artworks. “Under the sound of nonstop bombing, we were (told) to leave our area. We didn’t know where to go,” he tells Arab News. Shala is currently in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, where, he says, “the situation is continuously difficult. There is no safety and there are no essential supplies.”  

On a positive note, he says he feels a sense of pride at having his sketches on display in Amman, a city he loves and where he has many friends.  

“I hope that the world stands by those who have the rights, who own the land,” says Shala, “and doesn’t simply watch indifferently from a distance.”