DAMMAM: There is something deeply personal and poetic about Syrian artist Hayat Saker’s work: threads stitched into fabric, narratives woven and embedded into memory on acrylic paintings. Each piece has order and balance, yet stray strands burst out like colorful plumes of calm chaos.
Her second solo show, “Untitled,” which is at the ֱn Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, collects 41 works that were created in two countries over a period of several years.
Saker’s art is not only handmade, it’s “heart-made.”
“I feel like it is my country — I belong here,” she told Arab News. “ֱ is very similar to Syria in that I have peace of mind.
“Some of these works were made in Damascus and I shipped them over for this show. However, the majority of them were made in Saudi during my time here over the last two years.
“The technique is something that has been in our tradition for a long time — my sisters and family members use it — but I like to offer my own signature, my own slice of life, deep in nature, and emote feelings and characters that resonate with me. I consider my works to be my friends.”
Saker’s latest exhibition has been a family affair. Her husband, Nedal Al-Hmeidi, was by her side on opening night, as were their three children: twin daughters Sewar and Emar, who have also exhibited at the space, and son Rami.
The artist with her family. (AN photo)
Sharing her thoughts about her mother’s work, Sewar, who is a pianist, told Arab News: “The threads, though neatly stitched in parts, poke out seemingly at random, like life itself: a little messy, unexpected, yet still following a certain pattern and path.
“They hold their place, reflecting the beauty and complexity within us. It stirs something deep within me, and it’s very important to me. None of these works have titles; she deliberately leaves them open for each person to find their own meaning.”
Son Rami has vivid memories of the creative energy that goes into the works.
“My mother was an artist long before we came into the picture,” he told Arab News. “When she was still living at her family home in Syria, whenever she spotted an empty space on the wall, she would draw on it. She had this passion from the very beginning.
“After she got married, she began teaching art in schools, so it became part of her daily life. Later, she became an art therapist.”
Rami explained that his mother has an interesting relationship with the concept of eyes.
“Usually, eyes are seen as symbols of beauty — windows to the soul — but in her work, they represent surveillance and a cautious, watchful eye. In Syria, we grew up fearing the gaze, the eyes.”
His favorite work by his mother features a scarecrow.
“There’s a lot of symbolism and playfulness in her art,” Rami said. “The scarecrow, for example, is something that frightens birds but a mature viewer could recognize its sense of play.”
Growing up surrounded by his mother’s creativity left its mark on him.
“She tried to teach us that every child is capable of creating art, but one becomes an artist only after working on their craft,” he said.
“I leaned more toward music, like one of my sisters; I played the violin and the viola, elegant and professional instruments. I also explored sound and movement as part of my art, along with tennis and filmmaking.”
Emar highlighted two works, featuring roosters, among the 41 on display that are her favorites. “These roosters stand out,” she said.
The run-up to the exhibition was not easy for Saker. Just five months ago, she was in a horrific car accident that left both of her hands broken.
“Everything she was finishing came to a sudden, brutal halt,” Emar said.
The exhibition had been scheduled to open just days later but had to be delayed as Saker slowly recovered and found her way back to the canvas and threads.
“After the car accident, I was forced to postpone the show to give me time to heal,” she said.
Her resilience and personality shines through in every stitch.
Emar said: “Through these works, you see the true nature and life of the artist, Hayat. Most of the works were created before the accident.”
Each mixed-media piece, made with acrylic paint and thread, also reflects her signature spontaneity.
“She doesn’t sketch,” Emar explained. “She does it directly into the piece and lets the thread decide how it wants to move within the space. Only three women in the world are currently using this technique as their art form; it’s also very contemporary.”
“Untitled” is more than simply an exhibition, according to Emar, it is also an educational experience.
“It’s very important, especially for the children, so they can train their eyes from youth,” she said.
Saker created some of the works on display in just two or three days. Others took as long as three months.
“It looks like a regular, pretty painting but once you move your face closer, you can see the true details,” Emar said. “We are not used to seeing this in Saudi, especially. I am so glad that we have this space in Dammam that supports different ways of creating art.”
She emphasized the value of that support and thanked Yousef Al-Harbi, the director of the ֱn Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, for providing a space that “allows students and visitors to witness mom’s work, to study it, to let themselves be moved by it, and to carry that vision forward in ways they might never forget.”
Saker’s husband, Nedal, mingled with the guests who stopped by to gaze and reflect on his wife’s works, pausing by one of his favorite pieces, which was also the one used for the event poster.
“These palm trees with their circular blue shapes, it’s familiar but my wife did it with her own twist,” he said with a smile.
“Untitled” is at the Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam until Oct. 29.
