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Arab News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi filmmaker Ryan Al-Bishri discusses ‘When the Light Shines'
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's cultural scene is becoming increasingly significant both inside and outside of the Gulf region, with the Kingdom's artists being collected by prestigious international institutions and fetching impressive prices at auction. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ But a common gripe is that there is little archival material on those creatives who, decades ago — and without any of the institutional support the current generation now enjoy — built careers for themselves and inspired those who came after them. In his documentary 'When the Light Shines,' which screens at the Saudi Film Festival today, Saudi filmmaker Ryan Al-Bishri reveals one long-running initiative that bucks that trend. Layan Culture was officially established in 2007 by Prince Faissal bin Abdullah bin Mohammad Al-Saud and Princess Adelah bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, but stems from decades-long support for artists and creators from its founders. Layan is an archive, a collective, an 'art-concept creator' and much more. It celebrates, promotes and is a patron of Saudi creatives. Its website states that its vision is also to 'nurture artistic appreciation in the minds and hearts of the Saudi people.' However, despite its significance, Layan Culture is little-known, even inside the Kingdom. Al-Bishri hopes to change that. Al-Bishri was first introduced to Prince Faissal through his father, the fashion designer Yahya Al-Bishri. 'I heard a lot of the stories through my father, of course. And then from Prince Faissal himself. And whenever they talked about it, it was just like 'Wow!' Stories I'd never heard —really interesting stuff from back in the 1960s,' Al-Bishri tells Arab News. A few of those stories — of trips overseas or to then-rarely visited areas of Saudi Arabia as the prince and his friends attempted to gather information about the Kingdom's artistic and cultural heritage — made it into 'When the Light Shines.' Indeed, Al-Bishri says, one in particular was the spark for the whole project. In the 1960s, American artist, photographer and explorer Gerhardt Liebmann entered Saudi Arabia through Yemen. 'He just walked in — no visa or nothing — and started painting,' says Al-Bishri. Eventually, Liebmann was discovered by the authorities and deported. Years later, Prince Faissal and others were on a trip to Geneva. As they were walking past one of its many art galleries, the prince spotted a painting of a mosque minaret. The gallery provided the name of the artist (yes, Liebmann) and Prince Faissal reached out to him. In 1981, Liebmann returned to the Kingdom. The minaret, it turned out, was that of a mosque in Taif. Over the next few years, until Liebmann's death in 1985, the artist visited regularly, painting portraits of some of the Kingdom's rulers and its landmarks. Those works form part of Layan Culture's extensive collection related to Saudi Arabia, much of which the organization has restored, and much of which has never been on public display. When putting the documentary together, Al-Bishri was himself left bemoaning the lack of material available from the 20th century. 'There's a lot of archive we wish we had,' he says. 'Like, if there was any footage of Gerhardt and his journey and the people around him, that would have been really incredible.' Fortunately, Al-Bishri did have access to Prince Faissal's personal footage. 'He had a team around him who filmed, and we had to gather everything we could to get this together. As you see in the film, everyone is really down-to-earth and welcoming. They never had any formalities about anything. Even the prince himself.' That footage makes up some of the documentary's most joyous scenes — including a camping trip to the Empty Quarter — in which you really get a sense of the camaraderie between this handful of people trying to create a lasting cultural legacy. As Al-Bishri's father says in the film, 'Across the Kingdom, there were only individual efforts by people, and only a few who were willing to support these few artists.' Those words are echoed on screen by artist, sculptor and photographer Dr. Dia Aziz Dia, who was given a scholarship to study art in Italy, but on his return, he says, 'I was surprised that society wasn't ready to embrace art.' 'The prince connected a lot of people together. Without that, you've lost that sense of community. A lot of people might have given up,' says Al-Bishri. 'Especially at a time where everyone was telling you what you're doing is wrong. You know, my father got that for a long time: 'This is not right, what you're doing is very wrong.' But finding a group of people who are there to support you, as an artist, was incredible. Now we have that, of course, the government, the ministries… all of this change, it's wonderful. But it kind of feels like it misses the people before this — the people who fought, who struggled. We have to talk about them too. They started this. I want this film to bring people to Layan Culture so they can really appreciate the work that they've done.' It certainly seems to have done that. Since its premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival late last year, 'When the Light Shines' — the title alludes to Prince Faissal's feeling that now was the time to make some more noise about the work of Layan Culture — has won Best Film at the Munich New Wave Film Festival and been officially selected to compete at Mexico City's Mirada Corta Short Film Festival, East Village New York Film Festival, and the Florence Film Awards, as well as appearing at several other festivals. And Al-Bishri hopes his short documentary will spawn a television series. 'There are so many stories that we discovered that even a feature-length film wouldn't be enough,' he says. 'What we want to do is make a short film about each artist where they talk about their journey. I think that would be great.' His goal is a simple one. 'I want people to recognize the amount of work these people have put in. They sacrificed a lot and they had to fight a lot of people — a lot of family — just to do what they love,' he says. 'A lot of these artists — a lot of these communities — were very quiet before and maybe they got used to that. But I think it's very important that they should not be forgotten.'
Saba Yemen
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hodeida sees summer courses start in Hali district
Hodeida - Saba: The General Mobilization and the Subcommittee for Summer Activities and Courses in Hodeida Governorate today launched the summer activities and courses for the year 1446 AH in the al-Hali District under the slogan "Knowledge and Jihad." During the launch, the first deputy governor, Ahmed Al-Bishri, emphasized that the summer courses are part of a fateful civilizational and intellectual battle and a strategic educational project aimed at instilling the values of national faith-based identity at a time when the nation is facing conspiracies targeting its awareness and culture. He explained that the battle waged by the Yemeni people is not only on the military fronts, but also on the front of awareness and thought. Those who lack a firm awareness will become easy prey to schemes aimed at destroying the nation's identity. Deputy Al-Bishri emphasized the importance of these courses in building an educated, aware generation capable of facing future challenges, calling for concerted efforts to ensure the success of this national educational project. For his part, the director of the directorate, Mu'ayyad Al-Mu'ayyad, emphasized that the summer courses are an important step toward building generations and preparing them with sound educational preparation. He explained that these courses represent an intellectual and cultural lever for strengthening national identity and preparing a generation capable of preserving its values and principles in the face of cultural and ideological invasion. In turn, t The Secretary-General of the Local Council in the Directorate, Saleh Al-Harazi, emphasized that local councils bear a great responsibility in supporting such essential activities to protect the youth from the intellectual and cultural dangers that threaten the nation. He explained that the summer courses are platforms for awareness and education, considering the students who enroll in them as soldiers of thought and the future. He emphasized that everyone must provide all the necessary resources to ensure their success. The inauguration was attended by the Director of the Education Department in the Directorate, Hassan Wahban, and a group of educators and social figures. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Saba Yemen
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hodeida officials prepare for Ramadan with workshop on service, activities
Hodeida - Saba: The Executive Office and the General Mobilization Division in Hodeida province on Sunday conducted a workshop for executive office managers, focusing on preparations and activities for the Ramadan program 1446 AH. Hodeida first undersecretary Ahmed al-Bishri emphasized that the workshop aligns with directives from national leadership to enhance preparations for Ramadan, ensuring the delivery of essential services to citizens. He stressed the importance of inter-office cooperation to implement plans that serve the community during the holy month. Al-Bishri highlighted Ramadan as a significant spiritual period, necessitating strengthened social solidarity and intensified efforts to meet citizens' needs. He also emphasized the importance of religious and cultural activities that reinforce faith identity. The workshop aimed to establish clear mechanisms for implementing Ramadan-related directives and ensure all parties fulfill their responsibilities. Al-Bishri urged officials to demonstrate responsibility, raise morale, and work diligently to serve citizens, adhering to Islamic values and responding to leadership directives for improved administrative and service performance. He noted that Ramadan is an opportunity to improve service institutions, focus on providing basic food supplies, control markets, and stabilize prices to prevent exploitation of citizens' needs. He called for thorough preparation of awareness programs and religious activities that foster faith and piety within the community. The workshop featured excerpts from the revolutionary leader's directives on Ramadan preparation, emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth, community service, and teamwork. The workshop concluded with recommendations focusing on enhancing institutional work during Ramadan, coordination among relevant authorities to ensure basic service provision, strengthening market oversight, and launching social programs to support vulnerable groups. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Saba Yemen
15-02-2025
- General
- Saba Yemen
Al-Bishri inspects progress of "Al-Aqsa Flood" courses at Hodeidah University
Hodeidah (Saba) - The First Deputy Governor of Hodeidah, Ahmed Al-Bishri, inspected today the progress of the third phase of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" and first aid courses in all colleges and educational centers at Hodeidah University. Al-Bishri was briefed on the level of the university's interest in the mobilization courses, and the extent of students' interaction to benefit from them within the framework of cultural events and awareness activities. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
