All-female art show opens in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudis and foreigners crowded into a gallery at the French Embassy, checking out the paintings and sculptures of seven Saudi women artists, the latest opening in a growing art scene in the conservative kingdom.

One artist took advantage of the venue to hang an abstract painting of a woman, with one breast clearly depicted - a hint of nudity still taboo outside the diplomatic confines of the embassy, where Saudi Arabia's religious police cannot enter.

The weekday evening show in a small hall was packed with expatriates and, more significantly, Saudis, whose presence was a reflection of the surge of interest in the arts in the kingdom in the past few years. Local arts shows have been on the rise, more Saudi artists are participating in overseas exhibits, and more universities and schools are offering arts degrees.

The first nongovernmental arts society was established a year ago, with four women on its 10-member board. Saudis have become more accepting of abstract art, which, only a few years ago, was the subject of ridicule. And in many Arab cities, Saudi collectors are snapping up works by local artists, some of whom get special orders from their rich clients.

In a sign of the government's attempts to support the arts, the Foreign Ministry and the tourism board held a kingdom-wide competition last year for the best works of art. Those chosen will be displayed in the kingdom's embassies.

The change is dramatic from a few years ago.

In 2001, when one of the artists in Wednesday's show, Manal al-Harbi, enrolled for her master's in sculpture, she was the only student in the only university that gave a degree in that major. The specialty was frowned upon by many because of a prevalent view that the depiction of human form violates Islamic law and that sculptures look like idols.

"They would bring me teachers from Egypt," recalled al-Harbi, whose sculptures depict Arabic calligraphy, not humans.

Despite the progress, there still are limitations in this conservative country where men and women are strictly segregated. Artists say that they keep works that depict nudity away from public shows, and if they display them at all it's only at embassies.

At the French Embassy, abstract paintings in bold yellows, reds and greens adorned the walls. Sculptures made of rocks from various areas in the kingdom rested on one stand.

On one table stood the work of artist Eman Jibreen, expressing the dichotomy between a Saudi woman's public appearance and her inner self. A series of tall boxes were painted on the exterior with images of Saudi women swathed in the mandatory black cloak. Inside each box were pictures of Albert Einstein, a child, a kitchen - an expression of each woman's individuality that is masked by the cloaks.

A nearby caption read:

"We may look the same to you

"A scarf and a featureless black blob.

"But it is just a cover over our heads. Our faces maybe.

"But it has never been a cover for our brains."

Jibreen's uncle, Abdul-Rahman Jibreen, said that he was overjoyed to see his niece's work displayed in public.

But he said that he wished that Jibreen, who did not attend the function because of another commitment, lived in "an environment that appreciates art more than here."

"In a place like Italy, France or England, she would've done miracles because she would've been exposed to more museums, art and other artists," he said. *