“I seek to reach international level... and I aspire to establish a special institute for plastic arts.” These are the most prominent aspirations of the Saudi plastic artist Abrar Al-Qarni, who worked to develop and develop her artistic talent that she has possessed since childhood within the framework of her passion and love for the world of drawing and the arts, while affirming that a “wonderful future” awaits female plastic artists. Saudi women, based on their confirmation of the recent support for plastic arts in the Kingdom. She met the Saudi visual artist, Abrar Al-Qarni, and we had this dialogue with her about her journey in the world of fine art, her future ambitions, and her expectations for the future of fine art in Saudi Arabia. Tell us about your artistic beginnings and the most important challenges you faced in the world of arts. I started my journey in the world of arts at a young age, and I was accustomed to drawing with a pencil, and when I decided to draw with colors, I faced the first challenge in my journey, especially since I sometimes went through periods of despair and discontinuation from drawing, but I always had within me an insistence on being creative with “talent.” “That God gave me, so I often forced myself to train and practice for up to 12 hours a day. As for the other challenges that I faced in my journey, they were the lack of exhibitions and artistic institutions to conduct workshops, courses, and forums for participation outside the Kingdom, the lack of media interest, and the scarcity of critical writings, especially since the number of male and female artists in Saudi Arabia is large and needs more attention because of the great importance of plastic art, as it transmits the culture of a country and spreads values. It elevates taste. Did your family, someone close to you, or an artist play a role in your career as an artist? My mother - may God have mercy on her - was a teacher and taught me the artistic subject that I loved from her. My family played a role in encouraging and supporting me, especially my sister, the plastic artist and calligrapher Kholoud Al-Qarni, as well as my husband, who supported me a lot during my journey. The great artist Muhammad Al-Ablaan also played a role in my artistic journey. Especially since I have benefited greatly from his advice and guidance. What arts are closest to your heart? Painting, sculpture, and ceramic art. There are several art schools, which ones do you find yourself in? Abstract portraiture and abstract art in general. Do you think that the artist’s psychological state has an impact on his paintings? Yes, especially in the choice of colors and drawing style. The truth is that at first I did not notice this, but the artists and art connoisseurs around me were telling me that this painting clearly shows that I painted it in a state of joy, and that in a state of sadness, and their words are indeed true. Tell us about your relationship with drawing. Drawing takes me to another world. In times of joy, I resort to it, as well as when I am under stress or tension. It improves my mood and provides me with positive energy. Art teaches patience and calm and gives me psychological comfort. Are you keen to participate in art exhibitions? Certainly, praise be to God, I had several participations in more than one exhibition in Jeddah, and there are plans and agreements to participate in various local exhibitions as well as in Canada, God willing. What are your expectations about the future of Saudi female visual artists? The recent period, with the launch of the vision, has witnessed, praise be to God, an increase in interest in plastic art. We have now seen it in many public places, government agencies, events and forums in various fields, and, God willing, in national museums soon, and there will be a wonderful future for female plastic artists. What are your future ambitions? I aspire, God willing, to bring my art and work to the international level and to be distinguished in my field and to be creative in it. I also aspire to establish a special institute for fine art.
