Conceptualizing light

Al-Shashai is equally active in contemporary movements within the local art scene as an artist but also as a patron and collector. Al Shashai has received several awards throughout his artistic career, such as first prize at the Media Art show in Riyadh in 2011, andhas actively displayed his work in local and international venues. He is known for his distinctivestyle that employs found objects and utilizes imagery as a conceptual tool to deliver a creative commentary on daily life and socio-political issues.

Through creating what he describes as a ‘semantic field’ through his artistic medium, Al-Shashai thus poses 
philosophical questions that probe the existential human experience and how society shapes that existence. Though Al-Shashai uses a colorful and playful approach, he nevertheless explores serious topics - such as the ubiquitousness of global media, the global cultural decay into superficiality, and the growing lack of apathy that has come to define modern society - to engage the viewer in thought-provoking conversation.

Al-Shashai once said in an interview, "The strength of contemporary art comes from the multiple experiments carried out by professional artists." His experiment is to create a space in which his art can transcend being a mere object into a means to facilitate dialogue and to provoke the positive change deeply needed in society. We met with Artist Rashed Al-Shashai for an exclusive interview to learn more about his artistic journey and what influenced him the most throughout his career. Read on for his responses to our questions.

When did you start your journey as an artist and why?

I developed an interest in art at a really early age. Growing up under the roof of an art educator father who introduced me to art gave me the opportunity to often design objects in the house. Due to this upbringing, I pursued an academic path in art, obtained my art degrees in Mecca and taught art for more than 20 years, along with experimenting and practicing art myself.

What artists do you admire as role models, and why? What motto do you live by?

I’m pretty lucky to be alive in this era that is witnessing so many incredible artists while still having access to the legacy of past generations of artists who shaped the basis of contemporary art. I don’t have any one role model; I find inspiration in my surroundings and especially nature, but above all from God who created us and gave us this incredible world full of aesthetical inspirations.

What do you want people/the public to know about you?

I use art as a medium of reflection, expression, and knowledge. Through it I find a way to embody the issues that affect our daily lives.

What advice would you give people entering the field?

To have patience. Having patience might seem the simplest advice ever but it is still the most important thing for a sustainable career in art. I believe that success in such a field requires a lot of work, resilience, passion, and constant learning.

What is the importance of light in art?

I believe that light has a filtering agency in the process of creating stories, hence I use it either as a medium on its own or as a component in my varied-medium artworks, not solely for its physical function but rather for the expressive power it adds to the art.

Who are /what are your biggest influences?

My biggest influence is my local society and culture. I address the contemporary social issues dominating my community as well as the heritage that surrounds us.

Tell us about your participation in the Noor AlRiyadh Festival?

I participated in the Noor AlRiyadh Festival with an artwork titled "Searching for Darkness", which consists of seven vertical spirals of light that move constantly in a spiral manner at fluctuating speeds in a darkened room. The work is an attempt to represent the human need for light and is related to the spiral nature of our galaxy. The resulting dancing lights spurred joy and smiles among the audience.

How was your experience displaying your artwork in a mega-urban city like Riyadh?

I developed a huge interest towards the aesthetics, heritage, and politics of Riyadh as the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I am constantly researching to create largescale artworks related to this amazing city that continues to grow in influence and stature. Being able to be part of events taking place in Riyadh is a very important experience that affords me ample opportunities to interact with our local audience and explore the city’s ever-growing urban scene.

What does your art mean to you?

I consider art as my voice that helps me express myself. I have the ability to represent anything with all media, even sound. In terms of expressing myself personally, though, there is something that holds me back and art is my only outlet. 

Artists like Rashed Al-Shashai are part of a generation of rising, influential voices in contemporary art that are changing the cultural face of the Kingdom. Using his art as a medium to freely express his views on society's changes and evolutions, Al Shashai sheds a different light on its cultural motifs by presenting them in a fresh, contemporary lens.