Portraits of Pride

2026-02-26 - 06:36

Muscat – When passion becomes purpose and the brush turns ambassador, art transcends canvas to reflect identity, history and belonging. This vision defines Omani artist Yousef Al Nahwi, whose distinctive style has carried Omani art beyond the sultanate’s borders and into international galleries. Al Nahwi approaches every completed painting as though it were the first of his career – a work bearing his name and embodying his standards of precision and excellence. His latest collection features commanding portraits of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. Together, the works reflect profound affection for Oman while celebrating the authenticity and depth of its history. These portraits stand as tributes of loyalty and belonging, underscoring the leadership’s place in the artist’s heart and drawing upon the symbolism of horsemanship – an enduring emblem of Oman’s equestrian heritage. Speaking to Muscat Daily, Al Nahwi said the paintings are not merely representations of an image, but embodiments of profound love for Oman, its land, its people and its stature.” He explained that each colour palette was carefully chosen to evoke happiness, comfort, and tranquillity, reinforcing pride and a sense of national belonging. The monumental canvases – some stretching up to five metres wide and two metres high – required nearly three months of meticulous work, spanning February 2025 to early January 2026. The scale, he noted, was deliberate – grandeur of size, mirroring grandeur of subject. Among his most cherished pieces is ‘The Sultanate of Sultans’, portraying His Majesty Sultan Haitham alongside the late Sultan Qaboos. He describes it as carrying “a message, a smile, tranquility, and an abundance of emotion” – a visual dialogue between eras of leadership. Artistically, Al Nahwi’s journey began in Realism before evolving towards Impressionism, which he says, grants greater freedom to express emotion through colour while remaining grounded in reality. While art springs from within, he acknowledges studying international masters, noting that certain elements of his work bear an unintended resemblance to the approach of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. He views photography and painting as complementary disciplines – the former captures a fleeting instant, while the latter transcends reality through imagination. His early cultural environment, he adds, continues to shape his compositions of colour, texture and spatial balance. Al Nahwi’s first international exhibition in 2007 in Vienna marked a turning point, opening doors to wider recognition alongside numerous showcases within Oman and abroad. He maintains that visual artists occupy a respected place in Omani society, serving as custodians of a universal language that projects the nation’s image without words. “The painting speaks for itself,” he said. Reflecting on the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, whose art intersected with science and medicine, Al Nahwi argues, “societies which sideline culture risk diminishing their civilisational awareness.” Colour remains central to his appeal. Whether bold or restrained, he uses tone and texture to convey joy and positive energy, believing that “art should elevate the spirit and refine aesthetic sensibility.” He is currently completing a new portrait of HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, continuing his series depicting members of the Royal Family. Through this evolving body of work, Al Nahwi not only documents leadership in its visual form, but also affirms, with every stroke, his enduring dialogue with the homeland that he seeks to honour.