Through her artwork, Saudi artist Zakia Al-Mutaib has embodied the reality of women's images in folklore. After decades of her life, some value these works as an extension of the preservation of historical identity, as a visual vision that embodies a specific era. Through her works, Al-Mutaib connects the image of women in the past to their present future in her own unique way. Folklore But what is the story behind her specialization in folk art specifically? In 2015, Al-Mutaib received an invitation to participate in a visual arts forum in Muscat. She continued, "I was confused about what to offer alongside what the invited creatives from various countries would present." She added, "While packing my bags, an old photo of my mother cooking came to my hand. It was a spontaneous snapshot that captured all my senses and emotions. That snapshot shaped my visual vision, and through it, I understood the reasons for my motivations as a child and how they were shaped as an adult." Women's Figures What is the connection between this shot and her childhood motivations? Al-Mutaib says, "Before I learned to write and distinguish colors, women's faces fascinated me. I wondered how we have the same eyes, ears, and nose, yet our personalities are so different? I couldn't find an answer to that question. Returning to the image of my mother, it is also linked to my passion for heritage. My experience in drawing women preceded several other experiences I had in drawing windows and doors, as well as nature, sunrises and sunsets. When the image of the woman began to emerge before me, I placed it under my own microscope, examined it closely, and removed the veil from its areas of weakness and strength. I then crafted it with a palette of colors, a blend of reality and imagination. Women in popular life were the source of my passion for drawing. I delved into their privacy, lifestyle, dreams, simplicity, pride, ambitions, pride, and independence." She noted, "This was reinforced by my visits to several exhibitions in neighboring Gulf countries. Although I believed that the similarity between our cultures and theirs could never reach this level, some of the works I saw were based on what my mother had told me about our heritage. From that moment, I decided that my artistic approach would focus on documenting the folk heritage in detail." In 2018, Zakia Al-Mutaib presented 33 artworks in a solo exhibition titled "Female Specters," held at the Desert Heritage Exhibition in Khobar. She added, "This experience built my confidence in what I presented, given the response and reactions I received. I acquired most of those works, with the most expensive being priced at approximately $2,700." Symbols The women in her works are distinguished by their calm features, interspersed with symbols that carry specific connotations, "including the bird, which represents movement, freedom, and sustenance. Gold in my works reflects luxury, joy, and prosperity. On the other hand, the women carrying pots on their heads express the other side of independent women's lives in a bygone era, in the style of that time." Women in Their Evolution Regarding her upcoming works, the traditional artist explained that women will remain in their new present, but in a form similar to what they have achieved today. She explained, "The image of a woman carrying her belongings on her head, striving to earn a living, is the same woman for whom laws have given her a greater opportunity for independence and advancement today, but in a different, more civilized, and faster-growing form. I would add to that that Vision 2030 has transformed the status of women, lightened the burden on their shoulders, and presented them with opportunities on a golden platter. One of my upcoming works is titled "Walk Forward," and it addresses the story of women entering the military, active partners in protecting the homeland. Another work will discuss the issue of housing support for divorcees and widows. The work is embodied in the image of houses stacked together, with women and children looking out from their balconies in extreme happiness. I also have a new experience with the color of the abaya, and I will choose brighter colors to express their true nature. My next work will be an updated color that parallels the rise of women from the past to the present."