Witness History Come Alive: 10 Stunning Miniature Replicas of Old Neighborhoods
Saudi Arabia is offering a promising place for the growth of emerging artists. Visitors have long been drawn to the rich legacy of the old Jeddah town and the neighboring Hijaz region.
Miniature models of ancient neighborhoods are made by artist Abdulrahman Eid in a highly detailed, hyper-realistic manner. The public is drawn to his astounding creations.
He is a Syrian artist who has resided in the Kingdom for 18 years and is influenced by Hijazi culture and artistic legacy in his work.
In 1997, Eid was born in Damascus. Before to relocating to Saudi Arabia, he assisted in the restoration and renovation of old buildings and pieces of art, such as antiques, manuscripts, and paintings.
As he thinks jewelry design could and should be much more popular in the Middle East, he currently works as a jewelry designer in Jeddah and aims to teach others through courses and workshops.
“I collected many books and old photographs of various Orientalists and studied how they were documenting the country in the 30s, 40s, and 50s,” he said to Arab News.
“Some houses and neighborhoods with important historic value do not exist anymore, and I do not want to diminish any of their value. I collected various elements from different houses and made it into one unnamed neighborhood that imitates the reality of the past,” he said.
Intricate miniature items available in the stores include handmade carpets, hanging lamps, lanterns, ancient household items, vintage swords and other weaponry, mirrors, presents, and pilgrim-targeted handicrafts.
His designs feature Rawashin, the carved latticed windows common to the region, as well as other panelings, moldings, and door designs that are peculiar to traditional Hijazi architecture.
Eid claimed to have benefited from the expertise of a wide range of experts who are knowledgeable about ancient Jeddah, including academics, architects, construction engineers, and local authorities.
He claimed that Saudi Arabia was becoming into a favorable atmosphere for the growth of new artists.
“There are now many more galleries, and a genuine movement has started. I think that this trend in Saudi Arabia will give young people a variety of possibilities as well as increase the standard and level of competitiveness among them. Such competition is crucial to enhancing artists’ skills and the quality of works of art presented to the public”, he said.
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