Shahd Alhamdan Saudi Gazette The Bride of the Red Sea—Jeddah—is renowned for its culture, art and literature. In keep with its global image, an arts exhibition was recently held at the Roshan Gallery on Tahlia Street on May 26, exhibiting pieces of art by both Saudis and non-Saudis. “My paintings showcase memories from various stages of my life when I lost my mother; these stages are a turning point in my life,” said Fatima Omran, a Saudi artist who is showcasing her work at the exhibition entitled Attaa 35. “Individuals' priorities change when they lose the dearest two things in their lives. First I lost my father and then my emotions transferred to my mother who also died,” she added. Many artists participated in the exhibition with pieces of art depicting history, a period of their lives or their beliefs. On display were international painters along with the works of notable sculptors. “The two old paintings that I am proud of remind me of a juncture and positive shift in my life. Despite the pain that I suffered, this painting made me believe that life is fragile and like a glance. Once you lose someone, your priorities in life change and you start having new priorities,” said Omran. “The psychological pressure that a person faces, the characters in your life, your dreams and trends are all re-synthesized to your new situation. You can adapt. However, you are still representing a new stage that contains psychological pangs. The cheerful colors in the paints showcase hope—the hope for me in my children. They are the joy of my life,” she added. Talal Kordi, a Saudi architect and the owner of the gallery, explained that Roshan Gallery has been exhibiting the work of local, regional and international artists for around 35 years. “This event is called ATTAA 35 because of this. All Arab and major artists are participating in this exhibition with one or two pieces of their work. They are alongside the newcomers … there are almost 83 artists showcasing different styles and schools of art,” said Kordi. Art in Saudi Arabia has nowadays become part of society and many people have become part of it. “When we started, we felt we were just scratching the stone. It was not an easy thing to do. Now you can see people engaging. Jeddah has now become the centre of art,” she added.
