Dominique Mineur, The Belgian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia invited visitors to “Belgian and Saudi Face To Face,” an art exhibition as part of Europe Month 2022, at Lar’t Pur Gallery.
The week-long exhibition, which opened this week, runs until June 9th . “The Belgian Embassy is delighted to collaborate with the EU and Saudi Arabia to hold an exhibition featuring Belgian and Saudi artists in conjunction with the European Union month,” Mineur told Arab News.
The art exhibition has a strong focus on the celebration of women, and features a number of abstract pieces by Belgian artist Andrea B. M. Hulsbosch and Saudi artist Skna Hassan.
Mineur added as she talked about bridging the cultural space between Belgium and Saudi Arabia, “Both artists are portraying women in their respective contexts, and I think the dialogue between them is inspiring, and there is no better way than art to create links between two countries.”
Beautiful exhibition of artworks of the Belgian & Saudi artists, Andrea Hulsbosch & Sakna Hassan, at @Lartpur1 Gallery in #Riyadh, on the occasion of #Europe month. Come and discover "Face to Face", paintings & pictures depicting portraits of European and Saudi women.
— Ludovic Pouille (@ludovic_pouille) May 19, 2022
pic.twitter.com/bUK2R80NXL
Skna Hassan’s artwork is vivid and bold and showcases Saudi women dressed in traditional clothing with a modern edge on large-scale canvases, while Hulsbosch’s artwork is dark and abstract and painted on small canvases.
Belgian artist, Hulsbosch talked about her work and how it connects her with Hassan, “I believe that Skna and I are very complementary. Her artworks are large and bright while mine are intentionally smaller and more sober. My work requires a symbiotic connection with my collaborators and a level of intimacy with the audience which generates a sense of mystery, while Skna’s art makes an immediate impression. But both focus on women, and I feel that’s what connects us — telling stories as women and about women transcends borders.”
Outstanding exhibition of works by Andrea Hulsbosch and Skna Hassan at L’art Pur Gallery in Riyadh. Celebrating in Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/CHG3eVU9O4
— IrishEmbRiyadh (@IrishEmbRiyadh) May 18, 2022
Skna Hassan is renowned for the way in which she portrays women in her artwork, with one of her signature traits being that she always conveys traditions, especially Najdi culture. She added, “My work represents the Saudi woman and her life and culture. I am glad they called me and that the Belgium Embassy chose me to represent the Saudi woman. I feel that it was convenient to do it with Andrea because her pieces are about women and their cultures.”
Europe Month is dedicated to the founding of the EU and takes place on May 9th annually to remember and celebrate unity in Europe and its connection with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
