Simplicity in Colors
Painting by artist Abdullah Hammas, 2022, courtesy of the artist.
Abdullah Hammas was born in the city of Abha, and grew up moving with his family between the cities of the Kingdom. He studied at the Institute of Art Education and graduated as a teacher in 1973.
Hammas is considered one of the most prominent artists in the Arab World and one of the most important pioneers of the fine art movement in the Kingdom, and was one of the first Saudi artists to participate in local and international exhibitions.
His journey with art began at a young age, with the support of his father, who provided him with the basics of drawing, such as colors and notebooks. Hammas was able to develop his skills remarkably, as he presented his first work when he was only in middle school. He shared his love and passion for art with his students for 37 years, and had many leadership positions, including president of the Jeddah Culture and Arts Society twice, and was appointed as Secretary-General of the House of Fine Artists and was its former president.
When we contemplate the world of the artist Hammas, we find that he has created an artistic space that expresses the beauty of the past and the splendor of the present. His unique art leads us on an inspiring journey, manipulating the enchanting colors of nature and weaving new stories into every painting.
Artist Abdullah Hammas.
His works were influenced by the Symbolist Abstract School, through which he reveals a colorful world full of fine details and wonderful artistic formations. During his long journey, Hamas did not set limits to his imagination, as his artistic works embodied continuity and artistic diversity, the values of creativity and the spirit of innovation. Despite the simplicity of his subjects, he conveyed to us the depth of simple life in villages and countryside with its distinctive artistic style.
This is evident in the splendor of architecture and popular decorations that are reflected in his paintings in the form of symbols, which gives them a special aesthetic touch and makes them tell the story of the places in which he lived, with all their features, alleys and doors, and with the details of their decoration and colors.
In this rich interview conducted by Ithraeyat magazine, Hammas tells us about his artistic career, his beginnings, and the culture of art in Saudi Arabia.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, courtesy of the artist.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, courtesy of the artist.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, courtesy of the artist.
I consider my whole life to be art, and I have been in love with art since I was young and before I entered school. Even now, when I am in my seventies, I still “live” art in all its aspects and details.
In my early days in art, like any artist in the scene, it was tough in every sense due to the challenges with accessing materials, resources, teachers, and mentors. However, after enrolling in the Institute of Fine Arts Education, things improved significantly. The presence of libraries that catered to artists' needs, along with the establishment of a department for visual arts under youth care, provided better support for artists.
Painting by artist Abdullah Hammas, 2020, courtesy of the artist.
The colors in my paintings reflect the environment that I lived in the southern region, specifically Asir, which is characterized by its rain, trees, fog, customs, traditions, crafts, Al Qatt Al Asiri, and the decoration of colorful houses. All of these details influenced me as a visual culture and were reflected in all my work during the past sixty years.
I was very influenced by the Iraqi Fine Art School, because the teachers at the Fine Art Institute were Iraqi artists in the seventies, and after that I formed my own, independent style, which is symbolic abstraction through which I work to strip reality of its natural characteristics into symbols taken from my country and from our customs and traditions.
The Saudi art scene is on the rise and development, thanks to Allah, and thanks to the encouragement of those in charge, acquiring the works of Saudi artists, in public spaces such as government departments, hospitals, or palaces, which is something we are proud of.
Painting by artist Abdullah Hammas, 2022, courtesy of the artist.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, 2022, courtesy of the artist.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, 2022, courtesy of the artist.
By artist Abdullah Hammas, 2022, courtesy of the artist.
In fact, over the course of thirty-seven years, the hope was that students would become artistically educated, and not just that fine artists would appear. Praise be to Allah, this was reflected in Saudi society in their choices, homes, clothing, and daily life, as their artistic sense developed clearly, and this was our message in developing fine art in society.
When I feel like drawing, I paint anywhere, at any time, and with any material. The most important thing is to express my feelings on the canvas.
My works are spread across many spaces, including Al-Salam Palace, most of the ministries in Saudi Arabia, and hospitals, and I hope to find my work in every Saudi home.
