JEDDAH: In a season when millions turn their hearts toward Makkah, a new art exhibition opened its doors with quiet intention.
Titled “Zarabi” (Carpets), the show was launched to coincide with Hajj, drawing on the spiritual atmosphere that defines this sacred time.
Rather than presenting worship in literal form, the exhibition explores the essence of devotion, trust and the lingering impact of prayer through contemporary artistic expression.
Organized under the supervision of the House of Islamic Arts, the exhibition was brought together in collaboration with trainees from the Drawing and Arts Department at Jeddah and students specializing in event management at King Abdulaziz University.
“Zarabi” provides four thematic sections, each tracing a different dimension of worship and its visual heritage.
The first section, titled “The First Memory,” revisits early artistic representations of Makkah and Madinah. Through depictions of Islamic architecture, the Holy Kaaba, pilgrims and worshipers engaged in prayer and Qur’an recitation, the artworks reflect the formative spiritual impressions that shaped the artists’ visual memory.
Speaking to Arab News, Bodour Al-Zahrani, an event management specialist who oversaw the exhibition’s organization and visual experience, said her focus was on creating an immersive journey rather than a conventional display.
“As my primary field is event management, I always focus on building an experience that visitors live, not just observe,” she said. “In ‘Zarabi,’ we used spatial elements, lighting and materials to convey a sense of serenity and spirituality without presenting the concept in a direct or traditional way.”
The second section, “The Passage of Time,” highlights the historical development of materials used in places of worship. The narrative begins with natural ground surfaces such as pebbles and soil, on which early Muslims prostrated, then transitions to palm-frond mats and later to woven textiles including linen, wool, cotton and silk.
Al-Zahrani said that the transition between materials was designed to feel gradual. “We wanted visitors to sense a journey that starts with simplicity — with earth and stone — and moves toward woven carpets, symbolizing how tools may evolve while the essence of worship remains constant,” she said.
The third section, “Extension,” features woven artworks that explore the lasting imprint of prayer. Artists incorporated carpet motifs into calligraphic and ornamental compositions, suggesting that acts of worship leave spiritual traces that endure over time.
The exhibition concludes with a section dedicated to Islamic calligraphy and ornamentation, showcasing Qur’anic verses and phrases expressing reassurance, reliance on God and inner peace.
Al-Zahrani said maintaining a balance between aesthetics and reverence was central to the curatorial approach.
“It was important to ensure harmony between visual beauty and the sanctity of the concept,” she said. “We relied on simplicity and visual calm rather than excess. Even the calligraphic works and designated prayer spaces were designed to preserve a sense of respect and tranquility without visual overcrowding.”
The decision to launch the exhibition during Hajj season was intentional, she added.
“This is a time when spiritual awareness is heightened,” Al-Zahrani said. “Opening during Hajj allowed visitors to enter the experience already emotionally connected to the ideas of worship and trust in God, which deepened their engagement with the artworks.”
In addition to paintings and woven pieces, the exhibition features sculptural representations of the Holy Kaaba and Maqam Ibrahim, highlighting their symbolic significance in the hearts of Muslims and reinforcing themes of unity, reflection and devotion associated with Hajj.
Reflecting on her involvement, Al-Zahrani described the exhibition as a turning point in her professional journey.
“‘Zarabi’ opened a new perspective for me beyond being just an extension of my specialization,” she said. “What drew me most was how artists expressed their relationship with faith and worship in diverse ways. It introduced me to a different kind of exhibition and themes I may explore more deeply in the future.”
Through its layered sections and understated design, “Zarabi” presents not only an artistic showcase, but also a contemplative space where material, memory and spirituality converge.
