Malak turns away from the familiar desert imagery often associated
with Saudi Arabia and travels conceptually towards the mountains of
Taif, where families gather roses in the early morning. Three
generations take part in the harvest: grandmother, mother and children
move through fields of pink among mountain terraces, baskets and
traditional stone architecture. The relationship is active rather than
posed — the younger generation learns by joining in.
The cultural practices associated with Taif roses were recognised by
UNESCO in 2024. Harvesting traditionally brings together families and
communities, while rose products remain connected to welcome,
gifting, fragrance and hospitality. A copper distillation vessel, or rose
water flask, becomes the inherited object in Malak's composition,
allowing cultivation to transition visually into craft.
The palette shifts accordingly: rose, sage, cream, copper and mountain
blue replace the expected monochrome desert tones. This distinction
matters within Series 6. Where the United Arab Emirates painting
considers inheritance through the majesty of an elder and the rituals of
coffee, Saudi Arabia is expressed through participation in landscape —
hands harvesting, learning and making together. Country-linked Saudi
sand anchors the mountain environment materially within the canvas.
