A Kingdom Unveiled

She isn’t wearing a naqab,and prefers a designer jacket made of flowing black camel hair,embellished with an elaborate golden yolk,colourful tassels and many crystals. Jeddah-based artist,Amal Mohammed Al Zaharani is currently representing her country at the first Saudi Cultural Week in India,organised by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and ICCR,in Delhi. The festival,which began on Tuesday,was a compact package of music,dance,calligraphy,photography and painting exhibitions as well as a fashion design display and lectures.

Al Zaharani’s works incorporated antique items like an ink pot or a traditional lock and key into acrylic on canvas. Photographer Salha Ali Alshamrani,on the other hand,keeps her face covered,but makes her comment on her hometown through photographs of a rugged landscape. Master calligrapher was a crowd-puller — visitors thronged around his table to have their names painted in his signature style. The cultural activities of the festival culminated with a showcase of traditional music and dance at Sirifort auditorium on Thursday.

The exhibition is being held at the Lalit Kala Akademy till September 30.