Haggag Salama 

The Arab art movement has seen the emergence of many Omani artistic names that have succeeded in achieving a local, Arab and international presence.

This coincided with the Omani art scene experiencing development and prosperity, due to the expansion of the area of ​​artistic creativity on the land of the Sultanate, the diversity of art schools, and Oman's possession of an ancient history and heritage, a unique geographical location, and an environment rich in images and vocabularies that represent a source of inspiration for every artist.

In this survey, "Ahwal Al-Ma'rifa" tries to identify the sources of inspiration for Omani visual artists, and where they get the subjects of their artistic works that have begun to attract attention in Arab and international art exhibitions and forums, thanks to the beauty of their lines and colors and the diversity and richness of their subjects.

Aesthetics of Omani nature

Initially, the Omani visual artist Maryam Al-Zadjali - the former president of the Omani Society for Fine Arts - says that the entire universe is inspiring to the artist, as well as issues related to humanity are also a source of artistic inspiration. She noted that the sources of inspiration differ from one artist to another, and that there are artists who are inspired by trees and small details, and there are those who draw inspiration from history, and there are those who embody still life and human faces, and accordingly, everything the artist es through in his daily life is a source of inspiration for him.

"Al-Zadjali" added that of course, the choice of each artist for the subjects of his works differs from one artist to another, just as the approach differs from one artist to another, even if the subjects are similar, each artist handles any subject according to his culture, experience, vision, feelings, and soul.

Regarding her sources of inspiration, she said that the environment and aesthetics of Omani nature, the different terrains, geography, the sea, beaches, mountains, heights, valleys, plains, forts, and heritage and intellectual symbols, all represent sources of inspiration for her, stressing that the Sultanate of Oman has great richness and nature, history, and a present that inspires every artist.

She pointed out that since her childhood she has been a lover of heritage, old houses and neighborhoods, and the effects left by time on houses, as well as the effects left by time on people.

She pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman has a great civilizational richness and an ancient history, representing an extension of a great civilization, besides its unique geography, and they are all - according to her - subjects she expresses in her own way and chooses exceptional subjects from them using her experiences and expertise.

The Omani visual artist Maryam Al-Zadjali has previously headed the Omani Society for Fine Arts, and is a member of the Arab Arts Association. She launched a project to document the landmarks of the Omani heritage village Imti through the fine arts. She has many local and international participations, and currently chairs the Omani Women's Association in Muscat.

Festivals and Chants

The Omani visual artist Saeed Al-Alawi said that he draws inspiration for his work from the homeland and its heritage, and that the vocabularies of his paintings are Omani festivals and chants, besides the characters, jewelry, old doors, Arabic letters, and archaeological landmarks, and that women are present in his works in all stages of their lives, jewelry, and clothing, because women – according to him – are the soul of beauty.

"Al-Alawi" stressed the importance for the artist to be a documenter of his country's heritage through his work, in order to preserve that heritage and pass it on from generation to generation.

The Omani visual artist, Saeed Al-Alawi, is a member of the Omani Society for Fine Arts and the Arab Arts Association. He has held a number of private exhibitions and participated in dozens of local and international exhibitions concerned with fine arts, calligraphy and Arabic letterings, and he was unique among the artists of his generation by mixing fine arts and traditional drawings.

Omani Ornaments

Omani visual artist Dr. Salman Al-Hajri said that he draws inspiration for his work and vocabularies from nature, from Omani heritage and ornaments, from human and intellectual issues, from women, and from the memory store of scenes and situations, and from humans and their impressions, feelings, concerns and what worries them.

Dr. Salman Al-Hajri is an Omani academic, visual artist, graphic designer and researcher in the fields of fine arts and art education. He holds a PhD in Philosophy in theories of creativity and teaching of arts and graphic design. 

Popular and Historical Legacies

Omani visual artist Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Saif Al-Hinai said that he draws his ideas from the environment close to his heart, and that most of his works are embodiments of Omani identity symbols and their connotations depending on popular and historical legacies, and that at times he paints castles, forts and old houses, and at other times he paints the condition of people in markets, streets and in orchards among palm trees and crops, and sometimes he es out of the ordinary to search for unique and modern artistic formulations as if he is sailing in a wide ocean to search for a unique style.

The artist Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Saif Al-Hinai is a member of the Omani Society for Fine Arts and the Arab Arts Association, and he has dozens of participations in local and international exhibitions and forums.

Architecture and Human Movement

Omani visual artist Fahd Al-Maamari said that nature and the vocabularies and elements making up the Omani environment are one of the sources of inspiration for him, and that he is keen on documenting this Omani environment in a modern artistic way, in addition to architecture and the vitality and movement of humans in general, and light and the meanings of shadows and light projections and what they represent as a wonderful embodiment in artistic work as they create a network of light lines.

He added that every artist is a mirror of what he sees throughout his day, and what he sees of palm trees, trees, houses, neighborhoods and others, and that he seeks to embody this in his works which he sees as direct and indirect internal reflections, and that he often conveys through his paintings what occupies him of topics and questions, as well as his suffering.

"Al-Maamari" pointed out that the movement of cars, congestion, smoke and all manifestations of vitality and movement have become inherent to him in his experience and artistic career.

Omani visual artist Fahd Al-Maamari was born in 1985, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Art Education from Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman, and a Diploma in Graphic Design from Arena Animation Institute in India. He has previously held three personal art exhibitions, the most recent of which was entitled "Takhweer" and was hosted by the Saudi Culture and Arts Association branch in Dammam, along with many participations in local and international exhibitions and forums.

Status of Women and Her Authenticity

Omani visual artist Harith Al-Naabi said that he sees in his country what he does not see in others, and it is a permanent source of inspiration for him, and that the Sultanate is rich in fine arts vocabularies, from heritage, nature, history and people who carry special spirits and features.. and that his paintings are not devoid of the Omani touch, and he is keen through his paintings to discuss contemporary issues, providing human messages he described as "sublime". 

He pointed out that women are also strongly present in his works, given that women are inspiring as usual, and she is present in his paintings with her beauty and her active role in society, and that he presented in the painting "Identity" the beauty of women and the beauty of traditional Omani dress, and highlighting the Omani woman's keenness on protecting and preserving the national identity and Oman's heritage of historical and popular costumes. 

He added that in a painting of his that carried the name "Originality", he sought to embody the status of women, her authenticity and her willpower, her contribution with the man in building the homeland and the features of its renaissance.

The Omani visual artist, Harith Suleiman Al-Naabi, is a member of the Omani Society for Arts, and has multiple local participations, besides participations in forums and exhibitions in Egypt, Italy, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

It is noteworthy that the ancient Omani heritage, and the rich nature that the Sultanate is unique for, and what it contains of unique scene images and pictures, enjoy an abundant presence in the fine arts works of the Sultanate's artists, and this was manifested in the wide participation of Omani fine artists in Arab and international art exhibitions, especially exhibitions and forums related to nature, heritage, archaeological landmarks and historical architecture.