|
(The Saudi Gazette), 6
March 2006 – Abha,
the summer capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is where Abdulnaser
Al-Amri was born and received his first inspirations.
It is where he first came
into contact with a world to visualize, to explore and a people and a
tradition to paint for in generations to come. It was where, little by
little I realized that my mission was to record the present, the past and
the future in art for my people and for my country, says Al-Amri.
From the age of 11 he began
to experience the world of nature, the world of order and the world of
wonder, which was to turn him into the creative art force that he is today
in the Kingdom.
His highly distinctive
works of art in a variety of styles speak to the viewer on many levels and
to all ages. My goal is to educate and to touch humanity in a way which
will awaken and reawaken the senses, he says. Living in Riyadh with his
wife and children, Al-Amri is a clear reflection of the positive changes that
are gradually, slowly, sweeping over the Kingdom.
Al-Amri is a young man of
32 with a vision of different and equally significant ways in which the
environment and today’s world can be viewed.
I seek to capture the
essence of the drama that is life with its many unexpected turns and
surprises.
From the beginning of his
extensive collection of artwork, he has searched and researched new
techniques and tools with which to express his inner thoughts, feelings and
emotions. From
representational work, which was the root of his expressions, Al-Amri has
made a number of changes in his personal style.
Influences from the outside
world made their mark and I explore the world of the abstract, the world of
mixed media, woodcuts and my present passion with conceptual art. His work
is a reaction to and a reflection of world events together with personal
and private innovations which he wants to share with the public in general
and with his followers throughout the Kingdom.
While in Abha, Al-Amri
formed a group of five creative men who until today go under the name of
Shatta. These artists fall into a variety of artistic expressions that
include photography, poetry and the visual arts. They share expression and
discovery of themselves and the world around them.
Yearly they exhibit in the
Kingdom and provide for the viewer a comprehensive involvement and
participation. A group dedicated to reaching out to the public while at the
same time educating them. He provides a varied opportunity of creative
visual and audible possibilities. He broadens their personal world of
awareness and self-expression.
The combined styles of
Al-Amri’s talents are a display of forceful and dramatic images. My focus is basically in stressing
the power of rich warm and dark colors within forms and structures that are
aggressive and bold.
At no time is his work shy
nor on the defensive. He states visually what he means on a visual,
creative and intellectual level.
Although Al-Amri realizes
that all forms of the visual arts throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
are not generally accepted by the public, he is aware and has witnessed an
increase in art interest and participation in Jeddah. A number of
professional art galleries display a broad range of art techniques by local
and by Kingdom artists.
The growing art public in
Jeddah is treated and exposed to virtually all forms of art that are seen
in the major art capitals of the world in Europe and America.
The serious and
professional artist finds an outlet and a stage for his or her performance.
Artists share the limelight with other artists and there is cooperation
that is not as visible in, for example, Riyadh and Dammam.
Artists are lacking centers
where they can meet and discuss current cultural issues. Therefore the art
scene in Riyadh is suffering and is very slow to catch up with Jeddah’s
cultural growth, he says.
Al-Amri echoes and
duplicates the architecture of Jeddah. He portrays the unique window style
in many of his works of art and oftentimes lifts the exact details through
his technique of pressure and woodcut. The resulting image is therefore
accurate and then Al-Amri is free to add other techniques and achieves
strong depictions of the Jeddah of past generations that are today typical
within a vibrant and modern city.
Monochromatic colors of
deep and rich browns with emphasis of blacks and muted yellows reflect his
inner thoughts and feelings about the world that he creates for the viewer.
In order for the viewer to
fully enjoy an appreciate Al-Amri’s art it is important to be aware that he
is possessed with equal amounts of the gentle and the strong.
He draws his abstract
images in particular with conviction and with love. His work evolves for
inner emotions, which although not fully understood do hint of an individual
with a message and with a real purpose and goal.
Related links:
Tourism Sites in Riyadh City
Local Tour Operators in the Kingdom
Book your Tour with Saudi Arabian Airlines
International
Tour Operators for Discovering Saudi Arabia
Supreme
Commission for Tourism
|
