JEDDAH — Nada Sulaimani, a renowned Saudi plastic artist, employs her artistic talent as a bridge linking arts and art lovers as well as cultures and peoples. There were glimpses of her talent for artwork while she was a student. In the beginning, she started drawing pictures in the notebooks of her classmates. Accountancy was her passion and therefore she joined the bachelor of accountancy course in the university but continued her artistic work as an amateur rather than a professional artist. After graduation, and during the period of her search for a job, Nada decided to join the Mona Al-Qasabi Center to obtain art certificates approved by the Youth Welfare Presidency, which qualifies for teaching arts. She was then employed as an accountant at the Department of Higher Studies Agency at King Abdulaziz University, and then switched over to Ifs company, then to Emaar, and finally to the Finance Department of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Nada used oil colors and brushes to visualize the aesthetic beauty of KAUST, which serves as a bridge linking arts and art lovers. She sees the care and love of nature as a basis for her artwork. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, she recalled the humble beginning and the gradual growth of the artist in her to become a famous Saudi female plastic artist. She was highly influenced by world-renowned French painter Oscar-Claude Monet, who is regarded as the founder of impressionist painting, and the eminent Saudi artist and sculptor Dia Aziz Dia. She began her painting related to her subject of biology, when her classmates asked her to draw paintings for them in their notebooks. About her first art exhibition at KAUST, Nada says that she sees her art as the bridge of communication between civilizations and peoples. "Believing in the university's mission, which it hopes to be a beacon of knowledge and a bridge of communication between civilizations and peoples, I decided to hold a solo exhibition at KAUST. Prior to this exhibition, I participated in group exhibitions in Italy and various parts of Saudi Arabia, including a group exhibition at KAUST on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the university's foundation," she said, adding that this was followed by her solo exhibition titled "Reflection" at KAUST. Referring to the solo exhibition, Nada said "Reflection" came to her own vision of the KAUST zone with its amazing beauty and its unique reflection on society. There are those who are fascinated by KAUST's distinctive Islamic architectural beauty, and there are those who flirt with the purity of its sky, the warmth of its shining sun, as well as its pristine sea and its many colors. "But for me, it was my reflection of its pristine nature, represented by its sky, earth, and water, and I see comfort and happiness in it from my own perspective as an artist who falls in love with the purity and serenity of air, soil and water. The exhibition also showcased my drawings reflecting the scenery after rain and the reflection of images under shadows, apart from my memories about its surroundings in her capacity as an employee of KAUST." Nada's first ever solo exhibition at KAUST was held in the presence of a group of university vice presidents belonging to different nationalities. The artistic works were viewed from a different perspective, concerned with the nature of the place and its studies being carried out at the university, such as the mangrove and its importance as it appeared in her paintings. Referring to the painting, which is the closest to her heart, soul and conscience, Nada said it is the painting of 'Reflection', which illustrates the KAUST surroundings after experiencing rain and that she painted more than once. It also reflects Saudi civilization. She used the KAUST dome and arches, as well as camel and palm tree as symbols loved by all Muslims and non-Muslims who stand fascinated and contemplate over the diverse KAUST architectural marvel. On the plastic art movement in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, Nada said that the artistic talent of young Saudis was most often identified while they were pursuing fine arts and art history subjects in their curricula during their school days. "This formed the first nucleus of the generation of Saudi artists, who then proceed to other countries, such as Italy for higher specialized studies. The majority of Arab artists went to focus either on Arabic calligraphy or expressionism," she pointed out. In her message to KAUST and its community, representing more than 100 nationalities from around the world, Nada said she sees the university campus as a permanent creative space. She sees a bridge of communication between KAUST and Saudi artists to enrich the university with various civilizations. Nada emphasizes that art is a means for societal integration, while KAUST is a leading educational beacon for realizing the Kingdom's Vision and a center for civilizations. It preserves the Islamic identity and Arab and Islamic depth, with enriching economic, scientific and artistic growth, she observed.
