Dr. Fatemah Alqahtani is a Saudi artist, writer, and academic based in Riyadh, best known for her work in contemporary art and creative practice. She also serves as an Assistant Professor and lecturer at the College of Art & Design at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fatemah holds a PhD in Creative Practices from RMIT University (Australia) an she also earned a Master of Visual Art & Creative Practices from the University of South Australia, among other qualifications in art and design fields. Fatemah has been teaching in the Visual Arts Department at the College of Art & Design, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) since around 2012, where she lectures on creative practices and visual arts Her art explores identity, creative expression and new realities beyond traditional forms, often reflecting the modern Saudi artistic experience and influenced by modern Islamic art movements. Fatemah has been actively exhibiting artwork since at least 2007, with participation in exhibitions and events in Saudi Arabia, Australia, China, and the UAE (Dubai). She has authored work on themes like the formation of Saudi female artistic identity, and at least one book titled Creativity and Conservatism: An Investigation into the Formation of Saudi Female Artistic Identity.
East meets West in Art​
The saying “East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet” was expressed by the writer and poet Rudyard Kipling in 1889. Although this quote seems to be about infusible differences, however, Kipling was talking about something more beautiful than the obvious meaning of these words. A few lines later, he continues: “But there is neither East nor West ... When two strong men stand face to face.”
This new book 'East meets West in Art' extends this quote, saying there is neither East nor West... When two strong artists stand face to face. Regardless of geographical dimensions that will never meet between East and West, this book discovers how they meet in their human creativity and share a natural basis and structure.
This book sketches artifacts from these different geographical dimensions that have the same ability to reinterpret life’s meaning, no matter where they come from.
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Written by Fatemah Alqahtani​ & Koos de Wilt​
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[in production]
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75 Life Lessons from the Art History of the West and the East
Koos de Wilt is a versatile Dutch writer, lawyer, art historian, and cultural creator known for his books and projects that combine art, culture, history, and contemporary themes. He often works at the intersection of art/culture and business. He is active as an author, creator of media projects, speaker, and project developer focusing on cultural topics.
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Koos began his career as a lawyer after studying law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He later studied art history at the University of Amsterdam. He combines his legal and art historical background to create books, documentaries, TV programs, magazines, and other media projects that connect culture with social and business issues.
He is the author of several books, including Rembrandt Inc., Art and Business, Think Like an Artist, Don’t Act Like One, and other titles on art, culture, leadership, and history.
Koos gives lectures, collaborates on documentaries about artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer, and develops projects for museums and the media. He often works as a concept developer and storyteller, translating cultural themes for a broad audience. Besides books, he has collaborated on projects such as the large Rijksmuseum storybook and other educational and cultural projects.
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