Saudis for Today: Islamic art is our renewed identity and our bridge to the world

Today the world is reclaiming the visual and spiritual heritage For Islamic civilization, coinciding with International Day of Islamic Art, which represents an opportunity to remember the value of this art as a cultural bridge that has linked peoples over the centuries, and an aesthetic language that has transcended geographical borders to consolidate the concepts of spirituality and contemplation.

In the Kingdom, an elite group of artists and experts interacted with this occasion through innovative projects that merge originality with contemporaneity, stressing that Saudi heritage constitutes an authentic and renewed part of this ancient artistic system.

Texts Sacred

In this context, the visual artist and craftsman Muhammad Ghabra explained that Islamic art extends deeply into the Saudi heritage through architecture and decorations, describing Arabic calligraphy as one of the finest manifestations of this art due to its close connection to sacred texts and its ability to transmit tranquility.

Ghabra pointed out that Islamic art is not limited to decorations only, but also includes sculpture, glass, and music, revealing its tendency to document rare aspects by designing models to close the Noble Prophet’s Chamber, and making miniatures of Jeddah’s landmarks such as “Verse Square” in the “diorama” style, stressing that integrating heritage with modern methods is the best way to revive artistic identity and fight global stereotypes.

Cubes Silent

At the level of architecture, architect Turki Osama criticized the dominance of similar modern buildings that take the form of “silent cubes,” noting that they contributed to distancing the user from his cultural roots.

Engineer Turki confirmed that the Kingdom is currently witnessing a broad trend to strengthen urban identity, not through literal imitation of the past, but rather through stripping away elements such as “Rawashin” and reinterpreting them to fit the era, considering that preserving urban identity is as important as preserving rare artifacts, as they are a container for collective memory.

Islamic decorations

From another angle, professional photographer Moamen Talal highlighted the role of digital media in protecting this heritage, explaining that Islamic decorations, with their geometric complexity, are an inspiring source for filmmakers and visual content.

Talal called for investing in virtual reality and graphic design technologies to bridge the gap between the younger generations and their heritage, suggesting the development of immersive experiences that allow the exploration of historical mosques, and the need for artists to document this art in the Islamic world visually and cinematically to ensure its continuity and protect it from extinction.

Aesthetics of Botanical Decorations

With regard to craft arts inspired by nature, designer Samah Falooda reviewed the aesthetics of botanical decorations. In Islamic art, citing Qur’anic symbols and Prophetic hadiths that celebrate flowers and plants.

Faloodah linked this heritage to the natural capabilities of the Kingdom, pointing to the Tabuk region’s production of more than 28 million flowers annually, and the history of the sectarian rose registered in UNESCO, which extends for more than 500 years.

She revealed her works that combine the art of “resin” and eastern symbols such as a bird. Peacock, in an attempt to present artistic paintings that reflect Islamic identity in a modern aesthetic spirit.

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