second floor of the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Hewar art gallery - founded by Maha Al-Tassan, a self-professed passionate admirer of fine arts - is currently playing host to Abdul-Jabbar Al-Yahya's artwork under the name of “Building and Belonging”. Abdul-Jabbar Al-Yahya was born in Iraq in 1929 where he spent his childhood and what he calls his ‘most influential years'. In an interview with the Saudi Gazette, he remarked that he has been painting for most of his eighty years of age. He first arrived in the Kingdom at the age of 18 and promptly left for the US where he pursued a degree in electronics. On his return, he took up a government job, but never once gave up on his artistic pursuits. His first sketches were made on the walls of his home and amongst the ruins of World War II, the young Al-Yahya was fortunate enough to have the camps of British soldiers near his town (Al-Zubair), which allowed him access to the sketches some soldiers made of the city, and of the local mosques in particular. A walk through the gallery reveals aspects of Al-Yahya's childhood in some of the paintings; the figures and colors used. It is as if a degree of acquaintance with the artist's different moods and phases is achieved. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Al-Yahya speaks to people in the language of images rather than words, persuading visitors to stop, see and wonder at his creativity. When asked what he thought of his latest exhibition, Al-Yahya's prompt reply “it was the best so far in Saudi Arabia”, is testament to the fact that this artist is as proud of his work as he is passionate. “Inspiration is not by choice,” he said when asked about his muse. “It happens by nature; without knocking on the door. I find myself doodling on paper and it (the design) progresses to sketches and paintings.” He was reluctant, however, to comment on current artistic trends within the Kingdom. “There are approximately six hundred Saudi artists and each (one) has their own artistic style,” he emphasized. Al-Yahya added that his favorite creation dates from 1983, when he painted the piece “Building” and his son Hazim volunteered an explanation. “It is because of the structure and composition of the painting itself, as well as many other aspects, such as its technical dimensions and the subject, which carries a philosophical and social message,” Hazim explained. “It is also because of the simplicity of the painting in comparison to the depth of the meaning behind it.” He added that all of the artists whose work he has been exposed to have influenced his own artwork, but counts Vincent Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin as his favorites. Incidentally, all three are renowned 19th century European Post-Impressionist painters, and admirers of their work can immediately discern their influence in Al-Yahya's work. The exhibition started on Apr. 19 and will end after a month-long run on May 18, with the gallery remaining open from Saturday to Thursday and designating Tuesdays for female
