Pakistani painter Rabia Zakir became the first international artist outside Saudi Arabia to organise a solo art exhibition in Madina on Women’s Day earlier this week.
According to Arab News, Rabia also praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform plans for promoting arts and culture in the kingdom.
Rabia is well known in diplomatic circles for her portraits of Arab leaders, including the Saudi crown prince and members of the royal families of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
Her portraits and landscapes hang in 50 embassies in Pakistan, most prominently of Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Her solo show in the kingdom, which she described as a “journey of faith,” was a sign of the changing times.
“I am feeling very proud to become the first female artist from outside Saudi Arabia to present my work in the holy city of Madina,” Zahir said. “I don’t have words to explain my happiness.” Also read: Pakistani artist paints portrait of visiting British royal couple
Zahir said her pieces on display include portraits of Saudi leaders and paintings depicting Islamic holy places.
“It has landscape paintings of Haram, Masjid Nabawi, different places in Makkah and Madina that Muslims visit during their pilgrimage of Hajj and Umrah,” she added.
The artist said she had been approached by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts around six months ago after officials noticed her work on social media.
“They offered to present my work to the Saudi public by organising a solo exhibition,” she added. Rabia was also conferred with an award by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts for “strengthening Pak-Saudi ties” and will be holding a training workshop for young Saudi artists.
Earlier in 2019, the Pakistani artist painted a portrait of the British royal couple, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton ahead of their five-day official visit to Islamabad.—Agencies
