Heritage 1

Heritage 1 is a mixed-media artwork by the multifaceted Qatari artist Wadha Al Sulaiti. In it, she combines fabric with varying textures and embraces a bold palette of red, gold, and black. Through her utilisation of abstract painting techniques – specifically, Hurufiyya – Al Sulaiti aligns herself with regional dynamics by including illegible Arabic calligraphy in black atop the gold fabric that makes up much of the piece. The featured garment is a traditional cultural dress worn by women and girls from pre-modern Qatari society up until the present day; it can be worn both casually and on special occasions. As an artist and designer, Al Sulaiti focuses on local feminine historical fashion worn to highlight her cultural heritage but frames it within the contemporary context of shaping one’s identity.