Mariam Nihal

Saudi Gazette



JEDDAH — Rawa’a Bakhsh is a young promising Saudi artist who uses Arabic heritage and language to create mixed media artworks, photos and installations. Rawa’a is a fine arts graduate who grew up in a house that appreciated art in all its forms.



She said: “After high school I decided to go into biology, but discovered after a few weeks at university, that I was not made for science. So I took a semester off to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. A few courses in Photoshop and illustrator later, I found myself in graphic designing at Dar Al Hekma College.”



She is currently pursuing her masters Toronto where she is looking forward to her first solo show this year.



“I am currently working on my MFA thesis and my first solo show here in Toronto which most probably will take up all of 2013, in addition to participating in some exhibits in different Canadian cities.”



She expresses her art in various forms, using cultural background and infuses it with artifacts to give her art meaning and references to the constellations of time.”Transformed into art, language becomes an ornament.”



According to her website Rawa’a takes cultural artifacts as a subject matter while commenting on the everyday aesthetic of middle class values. She tries to approach a wide scale of subjects in a multi-layered way and also likes to involve the viewer in a way that is sometimes physical and believes in the idea of form following function in a work.



Rawa’a has showcased her work in Jeddah, Dubai, and Canada. “This year I am working on exhibiting in the UK And France. I feel like all my achievements are modest steps toward a bigger goal.”



Rawa’a said there is no better time to be a Saudi artist than now. “Art is booming in Saudi Arabia, everyone is eager to see something fresh, new and creative. And the support has never been better, with art galleries and societies popping up in all major cities. It has been great specially the past two years.”



She said she is truly inspired by Saudi culture. “It’s rich and full of subjects and materials to explore, my little family inspires me to become the best I can be, my two men. Tameem and his dad Abdullah are true inspirations in human form. Alhamdulillah for them.”



Rawa’a comes from a house of artists. She said: “My dad Adel Bakhsh is a jeweler by training and profession, he always had an eye for beauty. So did my mom.”



Rawa’a plans to teach, practice art and try to get better at it. “I am applying for a PHD. So only time will tell.”