Mona Saudi
Mona Saudi is considered one of the most prominent artists in the Arab world. She is known for her creations in sculpture and her ink drawings inspired by poetry. Her work is featured in private collection worldwide, as well as in museum collections such as that of the Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington D.C., l’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the National Gallery in Amman, the Sursock Museum in Beirut, the British Museum in London and others. Born in Amman in 1945, Mona Saudi obtained her MFA from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She lived in Beirut since 1969 and sadly passed away in 2022.
HOMAGE TO MAHMOUD DARWISH
Mona Saudi's friendship with the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish began in the early 1970's. His poems influenced and resonated with Mona and others - "I am a poet with a particular perspective on reality," he said. The drawings of 'Homage to Mahmoud Darwish' were completed between 1967 and 1980. The words of Darwish were added later, excerpts of poems written between 1976 and 1980, including the 'Earth Poem' written specifically for Palestinian Land Day . The series and were shown for the first time as a full set in 2012 in Beirut.
“This collection of drawings was inspired by the poetry of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. It was intended to be my gift to him on his birthday in March 2009. However, his sudden death in August 2008 delayed my project… 'Et le Poète encore est parmi nous…' (Saint John Perse).
So now, I bring out this homage to Darwish, a great poet, a friend and continuous source
of inspiration.”
Mona Saudi
PETRA TABLETS ADONIS
Mona's images are inspired by the poem by the Syrian poet and essayist Adonis, considered one of the most influential and dominant Arab poets of the modern era.
“.........
I hear a stir in the index of Petra
I hear a palpitation in her rib cage
Is it the stone opening and growing?
Do not awaken the stone from its slumber
Do not trouble its lake of dreams
Behold ………The stone's body is the colour of rose
Listen …….It is as if the stone generates mankind
It belongs to itself ...." Adonis