Tiger artist for "today": Al-Basht documents our identity…and a series "Anchorage" Reveals the social hidden

The artist confirmed Abdul Mohsen Al-Nimr that the “Al-Hasawi Bisht” is not just a traditional garment, but rather a comprehensive “historical document” that summarizes the story of Al-Ahsa socially, economically and artistically, pointing out at the same time that his dramatic works seek to go beyond the surface and reveal the “social hidden” to address society’s issues and pains, as is the case in his experience with the series “Al-Marsa”.

This came in special statements to “Al-Youm” during his visit to the activities of the Al-Basht Al-Hasawi Festival in its third edition, which is organized by the Heritage Authority in the historic Ibrahim Palace, where Al-Nimr described the festival as an international cultural demonstration that documents the inscriptions, meanings, and social life that the fathers and grandfathers lived.

Al-Nimr explained that the series “Threads of Mazaib” succeeded in documenting part of this integrated life through the story of the Bisht, but he stressed that this ancient heritage still carries within it deep stories and secrets that have not yet been dramatized, given the richness of the cultural stock of this craft.

And about his experience in “Al-Marsa” series Al-Nimr revealed to “Al-Youm” that the work means a lot to him because it represents a bold social situation that aims to “reveal the cover” of some hidden issues and hidden social pains, stressing that bringing drama to these thorny areas is the real goal he seeks to achieve.

Regarding the secret of his mastery of the character “Abu Issa” in “Threads of Mazaib,” Al-Nimr attributed this to the accuracy of the text written by the writer Hassan Al-Abdi with great details, in addition to He used the stock of his personal memory, as he lived in Al-Ahsa for more than nine years, which made him draw inspiration from the details of the character, its movements, and even the “moustache and mole” from real models he saw in “Al-Farej” in the past.

He pointed out that he was not satisfied with the text and memory, but rather met at length with the sheikhs of the car, including “Abu Ali Hussein Al-Shawaf,” to understand the finer details of the craft, which gave his performance high credibility that made the viewer feel that he was in front of a real “mazib” and not Just a representation.

The visit witnessed a remarkable emotional moment, when craftsman and expert Habib Bu Khader surprised the artist Al-Nimr by presenting him with the “original bisht” that he wore in the series, which is a rare piece hand-woven from goat wool that is more than 100 years old. Al-Nimr re-wears it in front of the audience on the festival stage amid great interaction. “Abu Issa Bisht”, which confirms the impact of drama in reviving the material heritage and connecting new generations to it.

Al-Nimr concluded his tour by praising the level of organization led by the Heritage Authority, expressing his admiration for the international participation and the various pillars that highlighted the aesthetics of the Hasawi Bisht, and appreciating the great efforts that were made to bring out this cultural heritage in a way befitting the status of the Kingdom.