Photo: Vogue Arabia June 2021
Saudi Arabian abstract artist Lulwah Al-Homoud designed a remarkable table shared by Gulf Cooperation Council leaders at a recent summit. Al-Homoud put together the drawings for the table that took center stage at the meeting of GCC member states Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, along with representatives of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.
The circular table is primarily made of wood with its axis adorned with different wooden shaded triangles that rotate outwards with lines made of copper. Al Homoud said she chose triangles as it’s a common design used in traditional Saudi architecture and the design was influenced by the changes taking place in Saudi Arabia. “We are entering a new era, but we are not forgetting about our traditions,” said Al Homoud in her commission brief.
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She added, “The triangle can also be modern and universal, but at the same time I wanted to capture growth and the act of evolving. The idea behind the design was to create something that represented ‘the vision of Saudi Arabia while staying true to our roots.'” One of the main challenges the artist faced was the number of people the table would accommodate. “It can be odd or even, so the design had to be smart. It took me a while to figure out how to do that. With guidance, I was able to work it out”, she said. “I am really happy, because for a table like that they could have easily gone to the best furniture designers in the world, but they chose to believe in a local talent.”
Set apart by sinuously placed Arabic letters in delicately elegant designs, Al Homoud’s work reflects hints of spirituality with all artistic elements perfectly balanced. Her work has found home overseas and also has nine solo exhibitions to her name with some of her artworks showcased at The British Museum, the Jeju National Museum in South Korea, the Greenbox Museum of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia in the Netherlands, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. A classic avant-garde in contemporary art, Al Homoud has several feathers in her hat including her Lulwah Al Homoud Art Foundation, which publishes books, organizes exhibitions, and promotes cross-cultural research. She also designed the Vogue Arabia cover artwork for the June 2021 Saudi issue, which featured Shahad Salman and Abdulrahman Alammar.
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