Al Qatt Al Asiri: Traditional Saudi Arabia Wall Art From Asir Region

What is Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art?

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is a traditional art form that originated in the hilly regions of the Asir province in Saudi Arabia more than 300 years ago. 

This spontaneous art form, traditionally practiced by women, involves painting the interior walls of their homes, especially their living rooms and guest rooms (called “majlis”), with geometric designs and motifs using bright, vibrant colors. 

“Qatt” refers to lines or cuts or engravings in Arabic, hence the name. Al-Qatt is known by several other names, including Qut, Nagash, Katabah, Qitat, and Zayan.

Women often paint large walls and big rooms with the help of other female relatives. 

Think of it as a happy, social gathering where women of the household get together and finish up art projects. There’s talking, food, camaraderie, and there is art!

It is at these gatherings that the younger generation also learns and picks up the tricks of the trade.

The practice not only beautifies living spaces but also serves as a medium of expression for the women of the region, allowing them to communicate their stories, identities, and social connections.  

UNESCO Heritage Inscription

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri wall art was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2017.

In the words of UNESCO, “Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is an ancient art form that is a key element of the identity of the Asir region. It enhances social bonding and solidarity among its community members.”

What does Al-Qatt art represent?

The first thing you notice in Al-Qatt’s paintings is the abundant use of geometric shapes such as triangles, squares, diamonds, and lines and bright colors such as green, blue, yellow, and red. 

Artists also highlight their creations by using black outlines to maintain the sanctity of every individual shape. 

Al-Qatt is a free-flowing and spontaneous art form. Therefore, the shapes and colors in it can mean anything to the artist who is painting them, as they probably did when the art form began in the 18th century.

But over the years, Al-Qatt shapes and motifs have come to represent several aspects of the Asiri heritage and culture, be it the tall mountains surrounding this region or the sense of camaraderie among the Asiri women of a locality.

The bottom layer is usually painted green, representing greenery or fertility of the land. 

Small triangles usually represent the daughters of a family (I believe this might refer to the artists themselves). The bigger triangles may symbolize the Asir mountains. 

Artists often paint concentric squares to represent the completion of the Quran.

Large, mesh-like images (usually including several diamond shapes with dots inside them) signify wheat, the staple food in the region.

By combining these shapes in intricate patterns, every Al-Qatt artist weaves an interesting narrative about their heritage, environment, and social values. 

What colors and tools are used in Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art?

In Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art, artists primarily use natural sources to create vivid color palettes. Primary colors are yellow, red, blue, and black. They are often mixed to create secondary colors.

The base is first coated using white gypsum extracted from the mountains, creating a bright canvas for the artwork. 

Artists obtain black by grinding charcoal and mixing it with plant resin and red from iron-rich stones and carmin extract from bugs.

Blue pigment is obtained from a sedimentary rock, while green is derived from local plants, usually alfalfa grass. Sulfur-rich rocks in the mountains, turmeric roots, and pomegranate peels yield yellow.

The artists first paint the outlines of the figures they want to draw and then fill them up with colors with miswak twigs (often used for brushing teeth in Asian countries, also commonly used as a chewing stick to keep the breath fresh during Ramadan), sheep hair, goat’s tails, and feathers as brushes.

Who are the Al-Qatt Al-Asiri artists?

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri artists are traditionally Asiri women who pass on this unique art form from one generation to the next. Every artist brings their personal touch and creativity to the designs. 

Some of the famous names in the Al-Qatt Al-Asiri domain are Fatima Abu Gahas and Jahaha Bint Buraidy. 

Another very popular name is Fatima Faye, who trains the next generation of artists at the Fatima Museum in Abha, Saudi Arabia. The Fatima Museum has an entire collection of Fatima Faye’s and her students’ Al-Qatt creations, which is fascinating.

Where can you see and buy Al-Qatt art in Saudi Arabia?

Head to the Asir region in southern Saudi Arabia to see Al-Qatt paintings preserved on site in ancient houses. 

The fairytale village of Rijal Almaa, which has several gingerbread houses, is home to many Al-Qatt paintings. Head to the Rijal Almaa Museum, where you can see many paintings on the walls and some displayed separately. You can visit Rijal Almaa on this guided tour with Abha Trips (which I highly recommend), and their tour guides will give you rich insights into the ancient art form.

At the Fatimah Museum, you can buy Al-Qatt paintings, tables, vases, tea sets, and other kitchenware. Prices range from SAR 50 – 5000.

Several attractions in Abha, including the beautiful Fatima Museum and Al Muftaha Village, also feature this art form. You can visit some of them on this guided tour of Abha City (another exceptional tour by Abha Trips, my favorite tour provider in the region).

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