The Virgin Megastore at Jeddah's Roshan Mall witnessed the launch of the Kingdom's first and largest illustrated and photographic encyclopedia: “Skills from the Arab Peninsula” last Tuesday. Compiled by Susan Baaqil, a Saudi artist, acclaimed professional photographer and board member of the Saudi Optical Imaging Association, the book contains more than 230 images and focuses not only on skills within the Kingdom but also crafts relating to culture and heritage. “This (book) is a very important step (taken) to strengthen communication amongst members of society, regardless of nationality, status or even religion,” remarked Baaqil at the launch. “Considered the first of its kind, the book seeks to encourage Saudi artists and photographers to participate in international events and exhibitions. In fact, that is why we have chosen the idea of photographing the Kingdom's history, heritage, skills and crafts.” Baaqil has compiled this selection of images by traveling across the country and photographing in even the remotest regions. “This has taken two years of sustained effort and work within many regions and small villages,” she said. “The most difficult part was ensuring that the photographs were taken at a suitable time of the day so that their quality wouldn't be affected.” What the book really aims to show people, according to Baaqil, is the many careers and skills that are unique to the Kingdom and rare in their preservation. Not just including photographs, the encyclopedia also offers commentary documenting the history of each craft with detail and Baaqil indicated that her initiative partly stems from the fact that so few people - Saudi and expatriate - actually know much about the Kingdom's heritage. As a testament to Baaqil's independence, the book also focuses on Saudi women and she remarked that she has compiled photos historically, starting with the first skills exhibited by both Saudi men and women in the launch of their respective ‘careers.' In addition, she adds that the book demonstrates how those skills and careers went on to form the family name for many families. In fact, a large part of the book was dedicated exclusively to women and Baaqil told Saudi Gazette that via the images she has compiled, readers can see the true capabilities of Saudi women - in direct contrast to the stereotype that Arab women are unproductive. She added that the book reveals the meteoric rise of the empowered Saudi woman, who exercises creativity and strength via artistic means. In many cases, she noted, artistic production has been the only source of livelihood for most Saudi women. Passionate about photography Baaqil spoke exclusively to Saudi Gazette about her love for photography - another factor behind the compilation of this book. “I think photographing art is a career in itself,” she remarked. “I started taking photographs as a hobby, and then I started studying those photographs, so it has become a kind of vocation.” She added that with the passage of time, the camera has become her eyes and best friend; not only does it allow her to photograph important and beautiful things, but also provide historical documentation for those aspects of life. The event was attended by more than 250 guests including diplomats, consulates general, poets, businessmen and women, as well as fellow artists and photographers, and the launch began with a charity auction of the book, the proceeds of which were donated to Al-Iman Association for cancer patients in Jeddah. The high-profile launch has also attracted the interest of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has displayed interest in obtaining a copy of the encyclopedia. A number of Saudi artists indicated optimism for the future of art and photography in the Kingdom and said that such documented photography compilations should be made available in all public libraries. “We are lacking artistic libraries,” said Kholod Al-Bugami, an attending artist. “These launches and exhibitions are important, but what is more important is including these books in libraries and making them available to the general public.” She added that educational institutions also need to include such compilations to raise awareness of Saudi artistic heritage amongst the younger generation and persuade them to represent their country in international exhibitions.
