Jeddah's Ancient Narratives Inspire Saudi Artist's Exhibition
Sarah Alabdali explores identity, material culture, and historic narratives in her latest show.
JEDDAH: Sarah Alabdali is presenting her third solo exhibition, "The Legends of Motherland," until May 24 at Al-Balad’s Al-Falah School in Jeddah.
The exhibition brings together paintings, prints, and collaborative works that reflect Alabdali’s journey as an artist and researcher whose work explores identity, material culture, and historic narratives.
Centered on Jeddah as the "cradle of myths" and the resting place of Eve, her work explores the shifting boundary between myth and history through abstract forms.
The exhibition features gouache and charcoal works alongside collaborative pieces with master khayamiya artisans from Cairo, as well as embroidered silk works from her brand Tabaa'.
These materials connect textile practices with cultural memory and temporary structures, reshaping fragments of heritage into imagined forms.
Speaking about the setting of the exhibition, Alabdali said: "Al-Falah has long been a beacon of light for families in Jeddah, having nurtured some of the city’s most influential intellectuals over generations.
It is a great honor to celebrate the legacy of the school and the remarkable figures who graduated from it.
I chose this venue for what it represents culturally and historically, as well as for its proximity to the Tomb of Eve, an important point of reference and a central thread within the exhibition".
She described her approach to inherited myths and lived reality as one of balance and coexistence, telling Arab News: "I navigate this tension through the use of symbols, metaphors, and layered visual language.
By working across different mediums and creating contrasts in color and texture, I aim to hold both myth and reality in dialogue, allowing them to coexist rather than resolve into a single narrative".
She added: "This exhibition is unlike anything I have worked on before.
It includes original paintings, prints, and collaborative pieces.
One collaboration is through our brand Tabaa' and features embroidered silk works, and another with khayamiya tent makers from Cairo.
Together, these works form an abstract journey through myth, history, and womanhood.
Living in Jeddah is one experience, but delving into its hidden narratives, legends, and layered histories reveals an entirely different perspective.
This process has required extensive research, conversations, and archival work, and the exhibition reflects the accumulation of that journey.
It might be only the beginning of a bigger body of work".
Qaswra Hafez, the founder of Hafez Gallery, said: "Hosting 'The Legends of Motherland' by Sarah Alabdali within the newly inaugurated space of Hafez Gallery in Al-Balad, located at Al-Falah School, marks a significant moment where contemporary art meets living heritage.
This new location situates the gallery within one of Jeddah’s most culturally resonant sites, where historic architecture and contemporary dialogue intersect.
By activating this space through Alabdali's exhibition rooted in the myth of Eve as the symbolic grandmother of humankind, the project emphasizes the role of place as an active vessel of memory.
It reinforces the gallery's commitment to fostering meaningful artistic discourse while supporting the artist's voice in exploring femininity, myth, and the evolving narratives embedded within Jeddah's historic fabric".
Currently based in Jeddah, Alabdali has expanded her work into literary storytelling following the 2025 publication of her first novel, "Departure in the Depths of Madinah".
Her brand Tabaa' has recently opened a small shop in Al-Balad at Zawiya 97, and in addition hosts studio gatherings every two months.
Reflecting on what she hopes remains with audiences after the exhibition, she said: "Impact and a deepened sense of belonging".
The exhibition brings together paintings, prints, and collaborative works that reflect Alabdali’s journey as an artist and researcher whose work explores identity, material culture, and historic narratives.
Centered on Jeddah as the "cradle of myths" and the resting place of Eve, her work explores the shifting boundary between myth and history through abstract forms.
The exhibition features gouache and charcoal works alongside collaborative pieces with master khayamiya artisans from Cairo, as well as embroidered silk works from her brand Tabaa'.
These materials connect textile practices with cultural memory and temporary structures, reshaping fragments of heritage into imagined forms.
Speaking about the setting of the exhibition, Alabdali said: "Al-Falah has long been a beacon of light for families in Jeddah, having nurtured some of the city’s most influential intellectuals over generations.
It is a great honor to celebrate the legacy of the school and the remarkable figures who graduated from it.
I chose this venue for what it represents culturally and historically, as well as for its proximity to the Tomb of Eve, an important point of reference and a central thread within the exhibition".
She described her approach to inherited myths and lived reality as one of balance and coexistence, telling Arab News: "I navigate this tension through the use of symbols, metaphors, and layered visual language.
By working across different mediums and creating contrasts in color and texture, I aim to hold both myth and reality in dialogue, allowing them to coexist rather than resolve into a single narrative".
She added: "This exhibition is unlike anything I have worked on before.
It includes original paintings, prints, and collaborative pieces.
One collaboration is through our brand Tabaa' and features embroidered silk works, and another with khayamiya tent makers from Cairo.
Together, these works form an abstract journey through myth, history, and womanhood.
Living in Jeddah is one experience, but delving into its hidden narratives, legends, and layered histories reveals an entirely different perspective.
This process has required extensive research, conversations, and archival work, and the exhibition reflects the accumulation of that journey.
It might be only the beginning of a bigger body of work".
Qaswra Hafez, the founder of Hafez Gallery, said: "Hosting 'The Legends of Motherland' by Sarah Alabdali within the newly inaugurated space of Hafez Gallery in Al-Balad, located at Al-Falah School, marks a significant moment where contemporary art meets living heritage.
This new location situates the gallery within one of Jeddah’s most culturally resonant sites, where historic architecture and contemporary dialogue intersect.
By activating this space through Alabdali's exhibition rooted in the myth of Eve as the symbolic grandmother of humankind, the project emphasizes the role of place as an active vessel of memory.
It reinforces the gallery's commitment to fostering meaningful artistic discourse while supporting the artist's voice in exploring femininity, myth, and the evolving narratives embedded within Jeddah's historic fabric".
Currently based in Jeddah, Alabdali has expanded her work into literary storytelling following the 2025 publication of her first novel, "Departure in the Depths of Madinah".
Her brand Tabaa' has recently opened a small shop in Al-Balad at Zawiya 97, and in addition hosts studio gatherings every two months.
Reflecting on what she hopes remains with audiences after the exhibition, she said: "Impact and a deepened sense of belonging".
