Late Saudi artist Fahad Al-Hajailan under spotlight in Riyadh
Mono Gallery running comprehensive retrospective of his work hoping he will finally get recognition he deserves
The pioneering Saudi contemporary artist Fahad Al-Hajailan is the subject of an exhibition in Riyadh: “Al-Hajailan in the Mirror,” which runs until Nov. 28.
Al-Hajailan died in 2018, largely unrecognized in Saudi Arabia despite having exhibited internationally.
Now, Mono Gallery, in collaboration with Naila Art Gallery, is running a comprehensive retrospective of his work in the hope that Al-Hajailan will finally get the recognition he deserves in his homeland.
He was a founding member of the Riyadh Fine Art Group, but was “kept almost in the shade,” according to Mono founder Momen Al-Muslimani. “No one knew how powerful he was at the time, 10 years ago,” he said. Al-Muslimani, who was a close friend of AlHajailan, told Arab News: “There are a lot of art lovers who are passionate collectors in the Kingdom.
They should have run toward him — creating books, (doing) interviews…”
Al-Muslimani said the artist spent most of his days in his studio, “painting away his emotions.” He suggested Al-Hajailan’s works reflect his sadness and sense of loneliness, adding that he would battle fatigue and hunger in a bid to create the ideal piece that would do his talent justice.
“I’ve made this artwork, but I can do better. I can find more secrets in me,” Al-Hajailan would say, according to Al-Muslimani.
“In Saudi contemporary art, we have a (few) pioneers — we can count them on one hand. One of them is Fahad Al-Hajailan. Everybody would speak with passion and love toward his art, his creativity. He is one of those treasures of this country.”