Saudi artist follows in pioneering father’s footsteps with unique painting technique

Najla Mohammed Al-Saleem’s paintings show off an elegant and three-dimensional visual aesthetic. (Social media)
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Updated 20 April 2021
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Saudi artist follows in pioneering father’s footsteps with unique painting technique

  • There were tributes to her father recently for his donations to the King Fahd National Library, and she received an invitation to showcase one of his pieces at the Noor Riyadh Festival

RIYADH: A Saudi artist is following in her pioneering father’s footsteps by adopting the painting technique that he developed and used in his own creations and adding her own touches to it.
Najla Mohammed Al-Saleem is the daughter of the late Mohammad Al-Saleem, one of the founders of the Saudi modern art scene.
His art explored the content and form of the desert, using tones and techniques that conveyed the force of the sun and its effects on nature.  
Najla specializes in the horizonism style of painting which, she said, embodied horizontal lines and desert elements combined with Arabic words. The result is smooth lines that show off an elegant and three-dimensional visual aesthetic.
Al-Saleem recently opened a solo exhibition called “Origin of a Homeland” in Riyadh’s Turaif district, and was invited to display her work by the Royal Commission of Riyadh and Diriyah Gate Development Authority. The pieces reflect the Kingdom’s cultural and historical buildings.
“My father is my first master, the first to influence everything in my life, mostly art,” she told Arab News. “His style was very interesting to me.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Najla Mohammed Al-Saleem is the daughter of the late Mohammad Al-Saleem, one of the founders of the Saudi modern art scene.

• She specializes in the horizonism style of painting which embodies horizontal lines and desert elements combined with Arabic words.

• Al-Saleem recently opened a solo exhibition called ‘Origin of a Homeland’ in Riyadh’s Turaif district.

There were tributes to her father recently for his donations to the King Fahd National Library, and she received an invitation to showcase one of his pieces at the Noor Riyadh Festival. She said that nobody knew about the chosen artwork until the festival.  She said she hoped to see more museums everywhere, and encouraged local artists to read about talent as well as practice their own.
“We should revive the valuable artistic treasures at museums so that everyone can see them, especially the new generation.”
People had a responsibility to provide artwork that met international standards, she added.


Deal signed to promote Saudi cultural heritage 

Updated 07 May 2025
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Deal signed to promote Saudi cultural heritage 

  • MoC signs agreement with Boutique Group
  • Agreement covers several cultural fields

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has signed a cooperation agreement with Boutique Group to promote the Kingdom’s rich heritage.

Deputy Minister of Culture for National Partnerships and Talent Development Noha Kattan signed the agreement with Boutique Group CEO Christophe Mares in Diriyah. 

Kattan emphasized that the partnership aligns with the ministry’s goals of preserving the nation’s heritage and culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

She added that the agreement honors the Kingdom’s rich history and contributes to building a future that values tradition and encourages global cultural creativity.

Mares expressed his company’s pleasure in the new partnership, which will focus on providing a unique and luxurious experience that reflects Saudi Arabia’s cultural identity.

He said the company will represent each region’s culture by incorporating its visual styles, sounds, and traditions into palace operations.

The agreement covers several cultural fields to showcase the Kingdom’s heritage in creative and contemporary ways, the SPA reported.

This will be achieved by integrating Saudi cuisine into the culinary experience, dressing hotel staff in traditional attire, and infusing palace designs with cultural symbols.


Jameela Jamil lands role in new film on Korea

Updated 07 May 2025
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Jameela Jamil lands role in new film on Korea

DUBAI: Actress, body positivity activist and presenter Jameela Jamil, known for her role in “The Good Place,” is set to star in “Pyongyang Home Video,” a new drama based on true events. 

She will star alongside “Squid Game” actor Won Ji-an. 

Won Ji-an will star in the movie. (Getty Images) 

The film follows North Korean sisters Nari (Ji-an) and Hana, who grow up secretly watching banned Hollywood movies. When their father’s black market VHS operation is exposed by a neighbor, the sisters are forced to flee the country. As they navigate their dangerous escape, they use scenes from their favorite films to deal with the mental toll the journey takes on them. Years later, Nari meets American talk show host Serena (Jamil), who vows to reunite the sisters on live television — only for the broadcast to take an unforeseen and revealing turn.

Hailing from Imagine Entertainment and South Korea’s Desert Bloom Pictures, the film will be directed by award-winning Korean filmmaker Yoon Sung-hyun, famous for his movie “Bleak Night.”

The screenplay comes from Liz Kerin, an American screenwriter, novelist and acclaimed playwright best known for the vampire series “Night’s Edge.”

 

 

Jamil shared the news on Instagram, writing: “She’s doing a proper movie!!!!”

The actress has a few productions in the works. 

Jamil is set to star in “Hysterical,” a feminist dramedy created by Olivia Lee and loosely based on real-life events involving controversial internet personality Andrew Tate. 

Jamil stars alongside Naomie Harris and Romesh Ranganathan.

Jamil has also lent her voice to the Pixar animated film, “Elio,” which is set for release on June 20. Jamil will be voicing the character of Ambassador Questa.

“Elio” follows an 11-year-old boy named Elio, who accidentally becomes the ambassador for Earth after being transported across the galaxy.

The movie also features the voices of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Remy Edgerly as his alien best friend Glordon, Academy Award winner Zoe Saldana as Elio’s Aunt Olga, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, and Shirley Henderson as OOOOO.

Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, the film is produced by Mary Alice Drumm.


AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris

Updated 06 May 2025
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AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris

  • Initiative aims to bring France’s creative expertise to Saudi Arabia
  • Artist will also join Villa Hegra in AlUla for a residency organized by the institution’s cultural program

RIYADH: A cultural institution in AlUla plans to select a Saudi artist to host a residency in Paris in an effort to promote French artisanal traditions in the Kingdom.

The artist will be chosen by Basmah Felemban and Gael Charbau, artistic directors of AlUla’s Villa Hegra.

A collaboration with the Mobilier National, a French governmental body that produces and preserves artisanal furniture, the initiative aims to bring France’s creative expertise to Saudi Arabia.

The artist will also join Villa Hegra in AlUla for a residency organized by the institution’s cultural program.

Villa Hegra is a planned initiative that hosts a variety of artist residencies, creative spaces for cultural initiatives, an exhibition hall, a cinema and performance art studio.

The partnership between Villa Hegra and the Mobilier National will also involve displaying a selection of design pieces from the French organization’s collections at AlUla.

Herve Lemoine, the president of Manufactures Nationales, said: “This partnership continues the Mobilier National’s rich tradition of collaboration with cultural villas, bringing French artisanal excellence to creative spaces around the world.”

Feriel Fodil, the CEO of Villa Hegra, said: “This long-term collaboration also strengthens Villa Hegra’s primary mission: To promote artistic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France, while celebrating their respective artisanal heritages.”

Villa Hegra was officially announced in an intergovernmental agreement signed on Dec. 4, 2021, by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, then-French minister for foreign affairs.

One of Villa Hegra’s goals is to foster cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and France.

Fodil previously told Arab News’ French edition: “It is a state-to-state initiative that represents the willingness of two parties to collaborate at the cultural level.”


Deal signed to promote traditional arts in Saudi Arabia

Updated 06 May 2025
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Deal signed to promote traditional arts in Saudi Arabia

  • Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and Namaa Almunawara sign strategic MoU
  • Aim is to advance the creative economy and preserve national cultural heritage

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and Namaa Almunawara signed a strategic memorandum of understanding in Riyadh to foster collaboration in supporting traditional arts.

The aim is to advance the creative economy and preserve national cultural heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The MoU focuses on key areas: building human capacity through training programs and workshops, offering consulting services, and designing specialized initiatives.

It also aims to strengthen the handicrafts sector by launching entrepreneurial initiatives, enhancing craft products, and empowering emerging talents.

Additionally, it includes organizing local and international events and developing community-focused traditional arts initiatives.

The institute plays a key role in promoting Saudi traditional arts locally and internationally, supporting artisans, and encouraging the teaching and development of these crafts.

The Ministry of Culture has designated 2025 the Year of Handicrafts to celebrate cultural heritage and promote the creation, preservation, and modern relevance of handicrafts. It will host events, exhibitions, educational programs, and competitions throughout the year.


Gerard Butler to touch down in Riyadh for ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ premiere

Updated 06 May 2025
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Gerard Butler to touch down in Riyadh for ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ premiere

DUBAI: Riyadh will host the first stop of the international press tour for “How to Train Your Dragon,” the live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s film franchise, with actor Gerard Butler set to arrive in the Kingdom this May.

Butler returns as Stoick the Vast in the upcoming film, slated for release on June 12. 

Butler returns as Stoick the Vast in the upcoming film, slated for release on June 12. (Supplied)

“How to Train Your Dragon” is directed by three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind the original animated trilogy.

“On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking societ,” the film’s logline reads. 

“As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader,” the logline adds. 
The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).