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Al-Qatt Al-Asiri



Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is a form of Arabic art painted by women at the entrance of a house. This art began in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia; front rooms were painted in murals or frescoes typically featuring geometric designs and bright colors. This art is called "nagash" in Arabic.

In Asir, these wall paintings were considered a mark of pride, and an invaluable part of the region's identity. This spontaneous art technique is widely carried out by women in their communities and involves decorating the interior walls of their houses, specifically in rooms for visiting guests. Women invite female relatives of various age groups to visit their houses and participate in this process, transmitting the knowledge from generation to generation.

Wealth is often indicated by the skill, color, and complexity of the painting, with less-wealthy neighborhoods having basic straight, simple lines in red, green, yellow, and brown. Women within the neighborhood compete to create the most vivid and extravagant paintings. The women's artwork is heavily influenced by their love for music and culture. For example, conservative women are more likely to paint their artwork in conservative and modest colors.

Generally, they paint the interior walls of the home brightly and employ geometric patterns. These patterns are adapted from the fabrics and weaving patterns in the area. Their patterns seem to include geometric patterns, triangles, squares, diagonals, and tree-like patterns. Women from the region sometimes sell miniature 'Asiri houses as souvenirs, which are popular with Saudi city-dwellers who find the colorful houses a source of astonishment.

The art, previously only practiced by women, has now been recognized as a popular art form by many. This includes male and female artists, designers, interior designers, and architects, among others. It enhances social bonding and solidarity among the community, and it also enhances the well-being of individuals who practice it. The element is applied in most homes, which ensures its viability within the community, and local individuals have started private galleries inside their homes to exhibit the artwork.

The best method for transmitting knowledge and skills is through observation and practice, which helps one generation to the next. Societies, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals all contribute to the process by safeguarding, promoting, and transmitting related knowledge and skills.

One notable application of this art can be seen at Abha Airport in Saudi Arabia. At the airport lounge, seating has been arranged in the form of a traditional majlis, and the walls have been painted in a variety of colors that reflect the natural beauty of Asir.


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