Storytelling reflections over the four years
Art pieces and poetry courtesy of Badr Bin Abdulmohsin Cultural Foundation.
when doors were closed out of protection, precaution, and fear, Ithraeyat was born. It stood as a beacon of joy and inspiration, a resolute break from the somber news of the time, harnessing the transformative power of art and storytelling.
Now over four years old, the magazine opened and continues to open doors for artists, writers, and creatives who find themselves on its pages. It also continues to inspire cross-cultural conversations through its various local, regional, and international partners.
Here, we look back at some of the stories that broke new barriers, inspired others, and continue to resonate with the public. From royals, ministers, and ambassadors to pioneers, emerging artists, and creatives from various walks of life, they have all graced the pages of Ithraeyat and told their stories through their art.
Ithraeyat is a canvas for all to paint in their unique narratives.
With over 800 articles featured, it would be difficult to mention all. Therefore, here are a few who shared their art, their creativity, their motto in life, and the importance of art.
Iconic figures have passed away since they shared their art and story with Ithraeyat, whose light will always shine beyond the pages and inside our hearts. Here, we pay homage to them as we express our eternal and deepest condolences and gratitude to them.
The late HRH Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Saud (1949 - 2024), the legendary poet, in his last interview, shared with us a different artistic side in the edition dedicated to the 'Desert' theme.
The late Princess Diala Arslan Talhouk (1971 -2021), author and poet, shared a timeless love story in the edition dedicated to the ‘Love’ theme.
“Trust in God, but tie up your camel….”
A national animal is more than a symbol; it becomes a cultural ambassador, a source of inspiration for poetry, storytelling, and art. In honour of the ‘Year of the Camel,’ we look back at and some of the more unique, colorful camels that broke stereotypes and graced our pages, the historical ones that even triggered battles, and the kind of songs and chants camels inspire.
The famous camels artwork by Saudi artist Fahad Al-Naymah. The renowned artist who took the ‘stereotypical’ association of Saudi Arabia with camels to a new level of creativity, with his drawn colorful mischievous camel becoming a kind of cultural ambassador for a diverse nation.
It has been quite an honor to showcase a few of the artists’ artworks for the first time to an audience, be it the first time in the region or the first time ever on the cover of a magazine. Be it Indigenous or over 100 years old, or even a contemporary piece that captures an important time in history, art is one of the few timeless creations that keep us intrigued about the artist’s intention behind it and how it can mean different things to different people at different times.
The art on the cover is an exclusive debut piece by award-winning Lulwah Al-Homoud, who was influenced by the daily news of numbers and how – in some ways – our lives are impacted by the unpredictable outcome of a roll of dice.
The poem featured is by Abū l-’Atāhiyya (748-825/826), one of the earliest philosophical poets and a prolific poet of ascetics. He was also the first Arab poet of note to break with the conventions established by the pre-Islamic poets of the desert and to adopt a simpler and freer language in poetry.
The lines featured are roughly translated to: “I am counting my days and trying to figure their sum, Ignoring not what I am calculating...”
![In this edition, we paid homage to ‘Joy’ and explored its creative expression and forms. With lockdowns lifted and some travel allowed, there were reasons to celebrate at that time as the world struggled with COVID-19.The cover features the exquisite, exclusive calligraphic art created for Ithraeyat by Abdulrhman Al-Faiz of the word ‘Falyafrehou’ [Let them rejoice] from a verse in the Holy Qur’an. He chose a rare Kufic form, an ornamental one often found in the divider section of the Qur’an, to celebrate the word and the concept of joy](https://api.ithraeyat.ithra.com/uploads/Joy_Eng_81253022a5.png)
In this edition, we paid homage to ‘Joy’ and explored its creative expression and forms. With lockdowns lifted and some travel allowed, there were reasons to celebrate at that time as the world struggled with COVID-19.
The cover features the exquisite, exclusive calligraphic art created for Ithraeyat by Abdulrhman Al-Faiz of the word ‘Falyafrehou’ [Let them rejoice] from a verse in the Holy Qur’an. He chose a rare Kufic form, an ornamental one often found in the divider section of the Qur’an, to celebrate the word and the concept of joy
In this special edition themed the ‘Desert,’ we paid homage to a world of poetry, art, creativity, and contemplation, rising from within the mirage of the bareness of the sands. We had a conversation with the ‘Shakespeare of the Desert,’ the late HRH Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Saud, and discovered his other artistic side, one as colorful and dynamic as his poetry. The cover art piece was His Royal Highness’s homage to the many faces of the desert and the peace one discovers in it as one takes a respite amongst its sands. Many stories are buried in the desert.
In Ithraeyat’s first edition, published in 2020, during the COVID-19 era, we paid homage to isolation and the great moments of reflection, reconnection, and reinvention that it inspired. The cover art piece, titled “That Happened in the Age of Corona,” was completed in over a month, with the final brush strokes dabbled just a few days before it graced our first cover.
Saudi artist from Al-Sharqiya Tagreed Al-Bagshi debuted this powerful piece in Ithraeyat magazine. Al-Sharqiya is also the home of Ithra and Ithraeyat.
In this special edition themed ‘Sketches,’ we had the profound —perhaps deep in contemplation — face of a ‘wanderer’ by Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883- 1931) grace our cover. Dating to 1931, this piece has never been published on the cover of a magazine in the region. It also reveals one of the most important core characteristics of Gibran — that in the year of his death, aged 48, he painted a ‘wandering’ face, embodying his lifelong journey as a wandering soul, a true wanderer of words and worlds.
In celebration of Ithraeyat’s third anniversary, it paid homage to the theme “Sound.” What started as a subtle lifeline for artists and creatives during the peak of the COVID-19 noise — keeping them connected to the public and the public to them — has evolved into a symphony of colors, stories, and art. Ithraeyat even has its own sound, its own identity of subtle, soothing music that you hear when you visit its website, composed for Ithraeyat by Saudi musician Nasser Al-Shemimry. The musical composition and notes debuted on this special edition’s cover.
We have featured stories, images, and art that touched the hearts and memories of our readers. These included comics feature titled “Nine Decades of Arabic Comics” and the regular series from Aramco Archives that includes rare photos that capture moments in history as well as past and present objects that inspired cross-cultural conversations through our special ‘Bridges’ section.
‘A Duck Pecks at the Moon.’ From a manuscript of Anvar-i Suhayli (The Lights of Canopus). Copied by Na‘im Muhammad al-Husayni al-Tabrizi. Paintings attributed to Sadiqi Beg (d. 1612), Qazvin, Iran, dated 13 Safar 1002/November 8, 1593. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. Page: 30.3 x 20.6 cm. Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, AKM289.
Rarities from the Aramco Archives. The “Flying Camel,” an Aramco airplane arrives in Dhahran. The gleaming exterior of the plane matches the beauty of its interior. Ordered from Douglas aircraft, the new DC6-B has begun to make regular flights between New York and Dhahran. Courtesy of Aramco Archives.
