Hajjaj Salama

The great Saudi visual artist Hisham Benjabi passed away this year after a rich artistic journey during which he contributed to enriching the Saudi, Arab, and international visual scene, and he—may d have mercy on him—presented artistic works that will remain eternal in the history of Saudi and human art. Benjabi belonged to a unique generation of artists from the "beautiful era"; he was an artist of realism and modernism alike. He was one of the pioneers of the Saudi and Arab visual movement. From the beginning of his journey until his departure, he remained a diver in the oceans of heritage, folklore, customs, and all images of the beautiful past, which he shared with us in an interview where he spoke about his career and visions. Throughout his journey, Hisham Benjabi believed that his homeland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is rich in visual vocabulary, heritage, nature, distinguished architecture, and striking fashion, making it a source of inspiration for every artist. He believed that art is capable of changing societies for the better and that the civilization of peoples is measured by their culture and arts. He remained biased towards his homeland and his city, Jeddah, which he saw as different and unique, describing it as the most present in the Saudi visual scene.

Saudi Vision 2030 and the unprecedented cultural and artistic movement it created were subjects of Benjabi's praise, as he pointed to the support it provided to all creative sectors under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He saw that Vision 2030 quenched the thirst of intellectuals and artists for years, revealing creative talents in all regions of the vast Kingdom through architecture, clothing, customs, and folklore, creating a state of passion for the artistic scene. Benjabi's journey began in Egypt, where he moved with his family at a young age, before returning to Saudi Arabia as a young man. His artistic experience matured in the Kingdom. He studied various artistic schools and possessed strong tools and high artistic culture. This culture led him to meet King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may d have mercy on him—while he was still a high school student, after a painting he drew of the King caught the attention of the Minister of Education. Benjabi was keen on studying ancient architecture, its doors, types of wood, and "Rawashin" in Hejazi architecture, especially in Makkah and Jeddah, and how they were influenced by Moroccan, Sudanese, and Ottoman arts. He excelled in painting the sea, old ships, and the rituals of life in his environment. He believed in the importance of artists immortalizing their country’s heritage through their works, considering visual arts a tool for documenting history.