Jeddah, July 9 – Jeddah’s plastic artists are angry about the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNSECO) refusal to include Jeddah’s Historical Area in the list of World Heritage Sites.
Their displeasure led them to organize a contest for plastic arts, “Jeddah Zaman” (Jeddah in Olden Times) in which more than 100 male and female plastic artists will participate, in the biggest art workshop Bride of the Red Sea has seen.
The one-month event, scheduled to kick off on July 18 at the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, aims to revive the heritage of the dilapidated Historical Area through the creativity of young men and women, in a cultural atmosphere simulating old Jeddah, so fathers and grandfathers recall their childhood memories.
Dua’a Thabit, organizer of the contest, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the collapse of buildings in old Jeddah, period fires and UNESCO’s decision, led the plastic artists to take this initiative and announce to the world that the Historical Area in Jeddah deserves to become one of the world’s Heritage Sites.
Thabit said all participants have the determination and enthusiasm to make sure their voices are heard through their paintings to highlight the beauty in this area, which will be shown in an exhibition in the Kingdom that will also tour the world.
She added that the event would document the old Hijazi life through the paint brush to show different images such as the customs and traditions, occasions, industries, handicrafts, education, food, household utensils and goods, music and arts, the beginning of the introduction of technology, printed advertisements and aspects of public life.
Thabit said the exhibition will be accompanied by Hijazi folklore and traditional dances, with vendors roaming among the visitors and selling foul, a traditional bean dish
–Agencies
