Offering a look at one of the Middle East’s most fascinating contemporary artists, this book explores the extraordinary life and work of Saudi artist, Dr. Ahmed Mater. Mater’s work is informed by his education and life as a medical doctor, as well as by his traditional religious upbringing and Saudi culture. His work, which encompasses photography, calligraphy, painting, installation and video, explores the narratives and aesthetics of Islamic culture in an era of globalization, consumerism and dramatic flux. It examines four of Mater’s most important artistic projects, and includes a foreword that positions Maters work within the cultural context of the Arabian Gulf, while the books elegant design evokes the artist’s Middle Eastern sensibility.
The book has contributions from Venetia Porter (British Museum), Linda Komaroff (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), and Stephen Stapleton (founder of Edge of Arabia).