Saudi Gazette Saudiaat last week held their 4th exhibition dubbed “Directions” at the Rochan Gallery in Jeddah under the patronage of Dr. Suhair Al Qurashi, president of Dar Al Hekma College (DAH). The group was founded by artist Samiah Khashoggi, an assistant professor at DAH, as part of her masteral research in 2005. Khashoggi started as a representational artist and gradually steered her way toward stylized and abstract art. “My journey with art has been long but inconsistent, often interrupted, but art has to be authentic and genuine. It has to be an experience worth reflecting and this process takes time,” Khashoggi said. Besides Khashoggi, Saudiaat is composed of seven other artists, namely Raeda Ashour, Effat Fadaq, Wafa Karasha, Ayman Mahawi, Wafa Al-Mihdar, Reem Nazer and Ibtisam Refae. All of them aim to create an artistic environment for female Saudi artists and give them the will to unveil the identities of Saudi women. They do so by creating art with select members of the Friends of Saudiaat, a group of young new artists. “Directions” was the perfect name for the group's exhibition as it reflected the different directions each artist took. One of the most unique pieces at the exhibition was that of young Anoud Al Amoudi, daughter of Fadaq and a Friend of Saudiaat. She showcased a photograph of differently veiled and covered women representing the struggles of hegemony and the dependency on housekeepers, and their effect on Saudi society which is very different from theirs. Rochan's director, Eng. Talal Kurdi, said the gallery is keen on attracting elite artists and groups such as Saudiaat. “We continuously empower women and give them the space they need to introduce their work.” __
