Saudi Arabian art

[2] Tribal symbols referred to as "wusum" were carved by Bedouins during prehistoric times and are found as rock art in the hills and deserts of Arabia.

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, an inscribed artwork on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is an ancient art form popular in Asir region where the white interior walls of homes are painted with various patterns of symbols and geometric shapes.

Even today, many Bedouin women weave, and they make brightly colored striped rugs, camel trapping and tents.

[7] An exhibition was held at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) to display 40 pieces by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.

[10] Canvash is an art studio and exhibition established by the Saudi artist Maysa bint Ahmed Al-Ruwaished.

Moreover, the studio holds a number of workshops to educate Saudi young artists and spread the culture of art appreciation.

[12] From 3 December 2020 to 28 February 2021, MAI organized Mukooth, an exhibition featuring emerging Saudi artists including Muhannad Shono, Alaa AlGhufaili, Saad AlHowede, Ayman Zedani and Hmoud Al-Attawi.

[16] The introduction of theatres into Saudi Arabia's cultural scene was orchestrated by the employees of the Arabian-American Oil Company, now better known as Aramco, at their residential complexes located in the city of Dhahran.

During the 1950s, outdoor cinemas popped up across several Saudi cities, involving screenings in open spaces around homes, of which were named after their respective owners.

Until the late 1970s, movie theatres were only shown to male audiences in various sports clubs; however, in 2017, cinemas were officially permitted to operate in the Kingdom.

[19] These traditions were often similar across genres due to the cultural crossover of the western and eastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula with those of the neighboring countries.

[20] Arts and crafts in their various forms were instrumental in creating objects of daily use, from ornaments and tools to decorations and clothes, while serving as a means of artisanship in pre-modern Saudi Arabia.