{A Contemporary Study of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia}
Nawal Mossalli, a renowned female artist in Saudi Arabia has been exhibitingher works of art since 1981. A selftaughtartist, Nawal never dreamedshe would make a profession out ofher love for painting. But with the supportof her family and her aggressivetalent, Nawal made a name for herselffrom her very first exhibition and hasenjoyed continued success as one ofthe most prominent female Saudi talentsout there today.
The subject of her paintings are traditional, from her faceless Saudi Bedouinwomen to her vivid landscapesfilled with palm trees and mud houses;yet her style is anything, but customary.Nawal’s school of art is truly herown. With her expressionistic fervor,impressionistic brushstrokes, and cubistimagery, Nawal has formed her owncontemporary style that is both distinctiveand ingenious.
Her style is greatly based on color, a manifestation of culture, heritage, andher drive to set herself apart from others.“I can trace my love of color to traditionalIslamic art which employs vividhues and skillful contrasts, ” revealsNawal. Simple, intense, yet incrediblyvocal; this emphasis on color has allowedNawal to evolve as an artist andcreate works that narrate the uniquegeography of this country.
Her first color phase, “The Red Phase,”covered the South region of Asir. Thisphase included her famous Tasbeh(Prayer Beads) and Jalsah (Sitting) paintings.
The reception of these paintings was widely successful and as a result,Nawal felt the pressure to produce asubsequent collection at par with itspredecessor.
It took her seven years, but Nawal finally accomplished it. “The Green Phase,” far exceeded the expectations
of the preceding collection, “I was searching for a better way to depict the palm tree which has become
synonymous with our country.” The green phase included two parts, Janube (South) and Wadi Hanifah
(the Central region of Saudi Arabia).
Her stress on the abundant greenery of the region was a fresh take and a stark contrast to the heated warmth of her red phase. The green hues presented a surreal tranquilitythat provided a physical transcendence through her fervent emotion and intense color.
Her present phase,“The Brown Phase,” reflects Makkah Al Mokarram, the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Although born inMecca, Nawal has waited until now to depict her origin.
“Everyone’s instinct is to paint Mecca because it is such a strong and spiritual subject. But I wanted to wait until I found a new perspective to present mybirthplace,” explains Nawal, “My paintings are my feelings and experiences brushed onto the canvas.”This is evident in her intimate portrayal of the Harem. More like a personal memoir, Nawal transcendstime to take the viewer back to her childhood when the narrow streets of Mecca were a peephole andtraditional roshan windows and their interlacing woodwork decorated the sky above. Her paintings, morea study ofanSaudi Arabia’s diverse geography and history, embody the beauty of a country that longs formore exposure. “My father was a diplomat, my husband was a diplomat, and in a way, I am a diplomat: Ifeel a sense of responsibility to represent my country through my paintings.”
“My purpose is to provide a map of the Kingdom in a new artistic perspective that shows the characteristic nature of each region.”
Despite the praise and recognition Nawal’s work has garnered, you won’t find any of the numerous awards
and medals she received hanging in her house. It is the paintings themselves that are the symbols of her
achievement, and only they deserve a place on her walls. Nawal believes that “it is the mission of all artists
to express their origin,” an effort that has earned her works a place in exhibitions all over the world, including
London, Rome, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid, and Los Angeles. She stresses the importance of Saudi art
and its contribution to society, “Saudis should be proud of their artistic heritage,” she explains.
Locally,Nawal asserts, “The infrastructure to make the public more aware of art and inform them more effectivelyabout galleries and exhibitions needs to be expanded.”