Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has spent over three decades in documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant traditional art in the Asir region, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, women in Asir were painting this outstanding art on the walls offering magnificent appearance for Saudi homes.
The art received international recognition in 2017 after being registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years he was visiting various villages in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.
He said that his mission was to search for the remnants of this heritage art in homes, noting that many of which have been lost due to time and weather.
Fortunately, Al-Almaai has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors despite several challenges.
He also explained that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt, as follows:
- Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design.
- Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake.
- Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) represent a form of visual closure at the end of a design.
- Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered under the primary art, generally known as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.
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