Saudi artist San Shyn unveils mural on wall of Saudi embassy in London

Saudi artist San Shyn unveils mural on wall of Saudi embassy in London
Saudi street artist San Shyn has unveiled a bold and colorful mural in the heart of Mayfair, London, outside the Saudi Embassy. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 January 2025
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Saudi artist San Shyn unveils mural on wall of Saudi embassy in London

Saudi artist San Shyn unveils mural on wall of Saudi embassy in London
  • ‘Street culture welcomes everyone as they are,’ says Saudi street artist

JEDDAH: Saudi street artist San Shyn has unveiled a bold and colorful mural in the heart of Mayfair, London, outside the Saudi Embassy.  

The piece, created in collaboration with London-based graffiti artist Cept, is part of an ongoing cultural-exchange initiative between Saudi Arabia and the UK, and follows other embassy commissions such as Rashed Al-Shashai’s luminous sculpture in its garden.  

Commissioned by Khalid Bin Bandar Al-Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Shyn’s mural will be on display until mid-February. 




Commissioned by Khalid Bin Bandar Al-Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, San Shyn’s mural will be on display until mid-February. (Supplied)

 The opportunity to create such a significant piece came through Stephen Stapleton, founder of Edge of Arabia, a platform known for bridging cultures through art.  

“Stephen connected us and showed some of my work to the ambassador, who was really happy with it,” Shyn tells Arab News. “I’m so happy that he allowed me to express my art as it is, in a very unique location in London.” 

The mural is a major milestone for Shyn, and came as something of a surprise.  

“In the beginning, the plan was to create many art projects and murals inside Saudi Arabia — to be known in different cities in the country. The next step was to create something internationally, but I thought it would take longer,” she says. “I was really happy to be chosen for this project, and I hope in the future to create murals in many cities all around the world and leave a legacy.” 




A sculpture created by Saudi artist Rashed Al-Shashai in the embassy garden. (Supplied)

The creative process for the mural began in December. Shyn worked closely with Edge of Arabia and Cept to define the direction of the piece. “We discussed what kind of look and feel we wanted — something colorful, bold, and creative,” she says. She developed sketches, decided on the color palette, and refined the concept before bringing Cept into the project.  

“It was a very smooth process because Cept is a very professional artist. He implemented my work exactly as I wanted it. I’m really grateful for his participation in this project,” Shyn says. 

The mural is deeply rooted in the values of street culture — a movement Shyn has been drawn to since childhood.  

“I remember seeing someone doing a kickflip (a skateboarding trick) in a movie, and I thought, ‘What kind of sport is this?’ That led me to discover hip-hop, breakdancing, and graffiti,” she says. “Street culture welcomes everyone as they are. It doesn’t care about your background, what language you speak, or whether you’re rich or poor. That’s something I’ve always loved about it.”  

Growing up, Shyn used art as a way to process and express her emotions. She created characters to represent different feelings, a practice she continued into adulthood.  

“Whenever I had difficulty expressing certain emotions, I would create a character for that emotion. One of them, for example, was called ‘Sappy,’ which was a mix of sadness and happiness,” she explains. “When I had a job that didn’t require much creativity, I felt restricted and I realized I needed a way to express myself, and that’s when these characters became part of my art again.” 

The mural outside the Saudi Embassy embodies Shyn’s belief in the universality of street art. “Street art is a universal language. It’s not specific to a certain country or culture — anyone can understand it,” she says. “That was my intention with this mural. I wanted to create something that anyone can see and connect with, (wherever) they’re from. It should tell a story that doesn’t require words.” 

This project is part of a broader initiative by the Saudi Embassy to promote cultural exchange through art. “Saudi Arabia is changing, and the rise of dynamic street artists like San Shyn is a great example of this,” an embassy statement reads. “Art is a bridge between cultures, and this mural demonstrates that Saudi Arabia and the UK have more in common than we might imagine.” 

Stapleton highlighted the importance of such projects in a statement, saying: “This playful, joyful artwork … reflects a new era of cross-cultural collaboration between the UK and Saudi Arabia. The language of art transcends the borders that divide us, and we need that language now more than ever.” 


Films backed by Saudi’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

Films backed by Saudi’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale
Updated 11 sec ago
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Films backed by Saudi’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

Films backed by Saudi’s Red Sea Film Foundation triumph at Berlinale

DUBAI: Three films supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation — “Tetes Brulees,” “The Heart is a Muscle,” and “Yalla Parkour” — were honored with awards, at the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as Berlinale.

“The Heart Is a Muscle” was awarded the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Panorama section. The film follows Ryan, whose five-year-old son briefly goes missing at a barbecue. His violent reaction to the incident sets off a chain of events, unearthing long-buried secrets and sparking a journey of self-discovery.

“Yalla Parkour” won the Panorama Documentary Audience Award (Second Prize). In her debut feature, filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter returns to Gaza, a place she first visited at age four with her Palestinian mother. After her mother's passing, a deep nostalgia for her homeland resurfaces when she comes across a video of young men in Gaza practicing parkour amid the chaos of explosions.

“Tetes Brulees” received a Special Mention for Best Film in the youth-focused Generation 14plus category. The film tells the story of 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother, Younes. Through resilience and the support of Younès' friends, she navigates the intense grieving process.

Additionally, “The Sun Sees Everything,” a new film in development by Wissam Tanios and produced by Christian Eid, won the World Cinema Fund Audience Strategies Award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.


REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation
Updated 26 February 2025
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REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

REVIEW: Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a bitter tale of occupation

CHENNAI: In the running for the Best Documentary Feature at next week’s Academy Awards, “No Other Land” is a gripping work directed by a collective of four Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

Helmed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film marks their directorial debut and follows the story of Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, as he fights against the mass expulsion of his community by Israeli forces. Since childhood, Adra has documented the demolition of homes and displacement of residents in his region under military occupation.

It is not sensationalist, it is not overdramatic, but it is as powerful as they come. The documentary traces everyday life in an area where generations of farming men and women have been resisting not only Israeli control but also the violence unleashed upon them by its military forces and settlers.

The documentary begins in 2022, with an Israeli court ruling in favour of eviction and a lot of the 95-minute work captures details of the misery brought about by the occupation in Arabic and Hebrew. There is graphic footage of homes being razed to the ground and operators going about their ruthlessness with faces that show not even a trace of remorse. Families with babies have to take refuge in caves, members huddled against each other trying to create a bit of warmth in the biting cold. “We have no other land, that's why we suffer for it,” says an old woman whose home has been destroyed. Later, her son is shot and paralyzed.

“No Other Land” is a harsh, bitter documentary that, perhaps unsurprisingly, has not yet secured a US distributor.


Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week
Updated 26 February 2025
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Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

Global models to attend Modest Fashion Week

DUBAI: Models and influencers including Halima Aden, Mariah Idrissi, and Rawdah Mohamed are set to attend the 10th edition of Modest Fashion Week from April 14-16.

This year’s edition will be held in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, with previous iterations having been held in Istanbul, Dubai, London, Riyadh, Amsterdam, and Jakarta.

In 2025, organizers expect fashion labels from 10 countries to take part, with a schedule of masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions also on the agenda.

Think Fashion and Miral Destinations are partnering to host the event, with Liam Findlay, CEO of Miral Destinations, commenting: "Hosting the 10th edition of the Modest Fashion Week on Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, a globally recognized event in the fashion industry, is a significant milestone.”

The event will draw star power in the form of Aden, Mohamed and Idrissi, who have hit the catwalk for luxury brands during their careers.

Aden has walked the runway at New York Fashion Week multiple times and was also a member of the judging panel at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in 2023.  She shot to fame for being the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant in 2016, where she was a semi-finalist.  

Mariah Idrissi will attend this year's Modest Fashion Week in April. (File/ Getty Images)

Somali Norwegian model Mohamed, who has an eyewear campaign with Italian label Dolce & Gabbana under her belt, has worked with brands like Boss and H&M and is also a regular on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in France.

Mohamed walked the Roberto Cavalli show in Dubai in 2024 and previously told Arab News that she “sort of stumbled into modeling” after a mutual friend put her in touch with her manager while she was at university studying for a degree in behavioral analysis and healthcare.

Mohamed said: “I went to a fashion show in Oslo at the end of 2018 where I met my manager. He told me about what they were doing and I went to his office for a meeting and I said I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a model but I wanted to work in fashion.”

Born in north west London to Moroccan and Pakistani parents, model Idrissi made headlines when she became the first hijab-wearing model to front a major fashion campaign for H&M in 2015.


Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign
Updated 26 February 2025
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Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

Elyanna fronts Coach’s Ramadan campaign

DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna is the face of Coach’s Ramadan 2025 campaign.

In the campaign, Elyanna is seen against a desert-inspired backdrop, styled in pieces that blend contemporary fashion with cultural influences. 

She is seen carrying Coach’s signature handbags, each featuring gold chain accents and the brand’s signature “C” clasp.

In one image, she wears a dark oversized coat with black trousers and knee-high boots, accessorized with a muted sage green handbag.

Another image captures Elyanna in a black long-sleeve top and a voluminous pink skirt. Her hairstyle incorporates braids with metallic embellishments, and is holding a black Coach handbag with gold detailing.

Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world throughout her career, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arabic and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Last month, Elyanna performed live with British band Coldplay during their four-show run in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The music sensation has previously hinted at upcoming projects this year, stating: “The sunrise and the rebirth of the ‘Woledto’ project is just (the) start for the next chapter of 2025. Arabic is the music of the soul and the sun. Grateful for all the talented people that believed in this project and helped with the vision to come to life this tour (sic).”

Elyanna’s debut album “Woledto” featured nine songs: “Woledto,” “Ganeni,” “Calling U,” “Al Sham,” “Mama Eh,” “Kon Nafsak,” “Lel Ya Lel,” “Yabn El Eh” and “Sad in Pali.”

Before releasing the album, she wrote to her Instagram followers: “This album is the embodiment of pride to be an Arab woman, to be from Nazareth, to be from the Middle East.” 


Football star Mohamed Salah’s daughter stars in Ramadan TV series

Football star Mohamed Salah’s daughter stars in Ramadan TV series
Updated 25 February 2025
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Football star Mohamed Salah’s daughter stars in Ramadan TV series

Football star Mohamed Salah’s daughter stars in Ramadan TV series

DUBAI: Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah’s daughter Makka is set to make her on- screen debut in Egyptian Ramadan TV series “Kamel El Adad 3.”

Born in 2014 in London, Makka’s role in the series was announced by director Khaled El-Halafawy, though details about her guest appearance remain under wraps.

The show is returning for its third season this Ramadan and sees stars Dina El-Sherbiny and Sherif Salama as Layla, a woman working in the cosmetics industry, and her husband Ahmed Mokhtar, a cosmetic surgeon. They live with eight children and the series follows the trials and tribulations faced by the household.

The Egyptian footballer surprised the cast of the show with a video call during filming, according to ET Bil Arabi.

Othe cast members include actors Hussein Fahmy, Engy al-Mokadem, Mariam al-Khost, Youssef Omar, and Amr Saleh.

Salah and his wife Magi share two daughers, Makka and Kayan, who was born in 2020.