I contemplate the cosmos of the moon
Casino AlRiyadh by Abdullah AlOthman, 2021. Various neon and LED lights and steel.
This statement prompted me to go on a journey of exploration revolving around the relationship between art and light.
Abdullah Al-Othman Saudi Arabian artist, has been a presence in the local art scene since 2013. In his works, most recent of which is titled “In Riyadh’s Casino, I contemplate the cosmos of the moon”, he plays with art and light in a way which delves into the themes of revelation that Turrell spoke of.
My artistic experience started with language, writing and poetry. In 2010, I published my first collection of poetry titled “A Late Memory, 10 seconds”, and then “This Void May Occur Twice” came about in 2012.
Light Grating by Abdullah AlOthman, 2019. 20,000 cheese graters. 4m x 4m. Courtesy of the artist.
This journey into literature, and poetry specifically, helped inform my artistic experience and develop my creativity. It also helped me research, read and look into various forms of artistic expression, ultimately leading up to my participation in the Mostly Visible exhibition in 2013 with more to come.
These experiences made me examine the very definition of art and its importance when it comes to expression, identity, culture and language. Even now my love for the artistic experience is still growing and will continue leading me to new creative possibilities.
Because in the end, art, to me, is about searching for answers to life’s questions, whether it’s through testing ideas or living new experiences, and examining the external and internal outcomes.
Light has always existed and defined the artistic realm. For example, the presence or absence of it changes the composition, the meaning and even the beauty of artworks completely. Light is a leading factor enhancing art both aesthetically and technically— it’s the secret of beauty and drawing attention to it, whether it’s in the form of a place, an idea or even a sentence. All of this is why light is a big part of my art.
For example, when it comes to Suspended, aluminum foil was used to play with how light reflects in the folds of the foil to give the building a feeling of width and infinite space within the neighborhood.
In another one of my latest works involving light, Casino AlRiyadh, I contemplate the cosmos of the moon, which was part of the Noor Riyadh exhibit, I set out to explore cities through language and architecture.
Throughout my journey, I discovered an abundance of lit up signs that guide the way and create endless possibilities for me in the city. So, I kept following these possibilities, imagining the stories of each sign and thinking of how various types of lights, for example neon or light boxes, affect the language of the visual story. Language is a way to preserve the history of the place and the existence of these once lit-up signs is proof. So, a building might cease to exist, but the sign is a reminder of what it once was.
This moved me and spurred me to explore the creative possibilities when language and light intersect to tell the story of a city. I started to collect old signs and worked to create poetry through neon lights. In this piece, there were several individual signs, from different eras going back all the way to the 1960s, which I put together to build a poetic story about Riyadh’s history.
In some art pieces, light plays a principle role, while in others light, itself, is the art piece. Light will always be interwoven with artistic experiences. This is evident when you go back to the basics of traditional art, the use of light and shadows is essential in creating depth and realism in a drawing or painting.
The Tin Farm by Abdullah AlOthman, 2019. Tin foil on 22 Sidder trees. Courtesy of the artist.
And now more than ever before, light has become even more integral to the conception of artworks, especially with the introduction of new tools, technology, videography and AI. The element of light is a vital element in creating an interactive, viewer-friendly experience with art.
As for the symbolic importance, light, or the lack of it, can be used by the artist in an effective way to tell a story and elicit feelings. So, artists should definitely keep all of that in mind when it comes to both public art and gallery art.
I always get this question and come up with a different answer each time. I’m always inspired by talented people and their stories, whether they are athletes, actors, singers or even architects. It’s these people and the moments I experience with them that spark my creativity.
When it comes to my art, it’s all about stories, whether it’s by revealing them or hiding them. So, I believe my chosen medium is flexible and changes to serve the purposes of each story. The medium should always serve the artwork.
Research. I research and read a lot about topics that interest me, without a clear direction or plan, until I reach a point where I’m bursting with information. Once I have the idea for my next project, I begin building upon it. So, I’ll sketch, play with different mediums, experiment with space and see where the process takes me. Sometimes, I have to go back to the drawing board and simplify things until I reach my final piece.
Art is a way to live better.
For each phase in my life, I have a favorite. Some artworks touch your heart for one reason or another, some validate your artistic endeavors and some take your career to new heights. So, I have multiple favorites.
The No-Touch Torture. It moved me and completely changed who I am as a person.
If an artist recognizes their own role in their personal, creative journey, they will have a valuable role and reach in society.
I don’t feel like I’m one to give advice, however if I were to give one single piece of advice it would be to: Research, create and persevere.
This conversation with Al-Othman only helped reinforce Turrell’s words and confirm the importance of light in the creative process. For, in the end, light not only reveals many stories and human experiences, it truly is the revelation itself.
