Bashaer Hawsawi on Nostalgia, Change, and Cultural Connections

Saudi artist Bashaer Hawsawi discusses her evolving practice, rooted in nostalgia and personal history, in an interview with Canvas. She reflects on how the Misk Art Residency in 2021 shaped her maturity as an artist, leading her to resign from her job to focus full-time on art. Her work Qanfager (2021) uses papyrus to document memories, inspired by ancient Egyptian practices. Cleansing (2022) incorporates a red broom from her home in Jeddah, symbolizing both physical and spiritual cleansing, and draws on family stories about Hajj and Mecca. Her exhibition The Mountains Quiver in Anticipation at Hayy Jameel (until 29 April) includes works that explore instability and transformation after her childhood home in Jeddah was demolished, forcing a move. She used stones from her old home and new ones to create balancing sculptures reflecting her emotional state. Early Ripening, shown at Noor Riyadh 2022, was inspired by her mother's method of pickling lemons in salt under the sun, emphasizing patience and process. Hawsawi collects materials from her environment and researches family routines across cultures, particularly in multicultural Jeddah. Curator Rotana Shaker noted her playful, childlike approach to building and dismantling works, which Hawsawi links to her father's store where objects constantly appeared and disappeared.