Al-Qatt Al-Asiri (also called ''nagash'' painting or ''majlis'' painting), is a style of

South Arabia South Arabia (), or Greater Yemen, is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jazan, ...

n art, typically painted by women in the entrance to a home. It originated in the

'Asir Region Asir, officially the Aseer Province, is a province of Saudi Arabia in southern Arabia. It has an area of , and an estimated population of 2,024,285 (in 2022). Asir is bounded by the Mecca Province to the north and west, al-Bahah Province to the ...

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

where the front parlour of traditional Arab homes typically contained wall paintings in the form of a

mural A mural is any piece of Graphic arts, graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage. Word mural in art The word ''mural'' ...

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

with geometric designs in bright colors. Called ''nagash'' in Arabic, the wall paintings are often considered a mark of pride.Yunis, Alia, "The Majlis Painters,"
Saudi Aramco World Magazine, July/August 2013, pages 24-31. In 2017 Al-Qatt Al-Asiri was inscribed on

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

's list of

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance.Compare: This list is published by the Intergover ...

Women’s artwork

Woman painting a wall using the Asiri art of Al-Qatt Women in the Asir region are traditionally responsible for plastering and painting the walls, corridors, and ceilings of their homes. A family’s wealth is often signified by the skill, color, and complexity of the paintings, with poorer homes decorated in basic straight, simple lines in red, green, yellow, and brown. Women within the same neighborhood sometimes compete to make the most vivid and extravagant designs. Women's artwork is heavily influenced by their love for music, their view of culture and general perception of life; for example, the artwork of more conservative women is more likely to feature conservative and modest colors. The interior walls of the home are brightly painted, employing defined patterns of lines, triangles, squares, diagonals and tree-like patterns. The geometric designs and heavy lines seem to be adapted from the area’s textile and weaving patterns. Women from the region sometimes sell miniature '''Asiri'' houses as souvenirs and bric-à-brac, which are popular among Saudi city-dwellers, who find these colorful houses a source of wonder.

Airport art

The Saudi provincial airport in

Abha Abha (, ') is the capital of Asir, Asir Province in Saudi Arabia. It is situated above sea level in the fertile Asir Mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia, near Asir National Park. Abha's mild climate makes it a popular tourist destination fo ...

reflects the region's cultural heritage. Airport Director Abdul Aziz Abu Harba said that "the seating arrangement at the airport lounge has been in the form of a traditional ''majlis'' and the walls are painted in various colors reflecting the natural beauty of Asir".

References

{{Portal, Saudi Arabia, Yemen Arabic art Visual arts genres Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Interior design Islamic architectural elements Painting techniques Saudi Arabian art Culture of Saudi Arabia Murals Women and the arts Women in Saudi Arabia