Naima Abdullah Al Maimani: Colour my world

Get to know Naima Abdullah Al Maimani, Omani artist and jewellery designer

Colours and their myriad hues have intrigued me since childhood. I loved watching sunsets – I was mesmerised by the array of unique shades and colour combinations that were splashed across the evening sky.

I studied for four years at a boarding school in Chennai in India. My father insisted on providing me with a strong foundation in English. He believed that being fluent in this language would be important to my future and that it would bring me many opportunities. I was never homesick at boarding school as I was an independent child.

I studied in Muscat while my parents lived in Seeb 30km away. I used to live with my grandparents during the week and only visited my parents on the weekends and so I didn't find readjusting to boarding school life difficult. I was so occupied with classes and activities that there was little time left in which to be homesick. I have tried to instil this sense of independence in my three sons.

Cultural fascination

I completed my studies in Oman and then pursued my higher education at the University of Bahrain where I studied English literature and history. I enjoyed my time there tremendously before making my way back to Oman where I began working at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, dealing with museums and antiquities. I translated excavation documents from English to Arabic and so was able to make use of both my historical and English language backgrounds.

At the moment, I am responsible for coordinating the directorate of archaeology and museums at the Ministry. This involves working on historical sites so as to raise global awareness to the fact that Oman boasts two Unesco world heritage sites: Bahla fort and Bat tombs.

Painting a future

I loved to paint and draw as a child. I stopped painting while I was at university and resumed this hobby only after returning to Oman. For a year I only did pencil sketches.

Then I began to experiment with different media and genres, including still-life art and portraiture. My first exhibition was at the Bait al Muzna gallery.

For the past seven years, I have been working with abstract concepts, focusing on old cities, places and buildings of antiquity in my paintings. Actually, these works are not so much abstract but are my own artistic interpretations of architectural heritage. I try as much as possible to stick to depicting heritage in my work. Through my paintings, I want to remind the world of architecture that may be in danger of vanishing from our world as well as our memories.

Making connections

The primary idea behind these paintings is the strong connection between people and places. Our earliest memories are often associated with the places where we grew up. However, many of the houses in Muttrah where I grew up are being renovated. So in a way, I strive to preserve these vanishing examples of architecture in my work.

I use oils and also inlay my works with gold, silver, copper and magnesium sheets. I use varying materials to represent the wealth of heritage I believe my country embodies.
I once had the opportunity to interact with my customers with regard to my paintings. They said that one of the reasons that drew them to buying my work is that they felt a sense of belonging to the places depicted in the paintings. Most of my buyers are from Europe.

I would like to show them that in Oman we are blessed with rich heritage. As tourists, they wanted to take a bit of this Oman heritage home with them. I think it is wonderful that they are taking my paintings with them beyond Oman. I hope that my works become a medium through which to raise awareness about Oman and the unique cultural identity that it has.

Preoccupations with the past

I am passionate about documenting my heritage and I enjoy visiting antique shops. Whenever I go to Muttrah souq,
I gravitate towards antiques stalls.

I am in awe of an antique's origins and the history it has witnessed. While purchasing an antique piece, I don't care where it is from as long as it is free from termites and clean. I appreciate any country's heritage.

My house is filled with various antique pieces. I am easily bored by modern furniture. I keep on finding new antique artefacts to fill my home with and admire every day.
I work extensively with old Omani silver – another one of my passions. Large, dramatic and bold examples of Omani silver jewellery were often framed or displayed in glass cabinets and I wondered why they did not actually wear the pieces.

I ended up dabbling in a side jewellery business in which I would use old Omani silver in designs that we could wear on a daily basis. I myself don't like wearing gold and prefer silver and beaded jewellery.

Every Thursday morning I browse through old stores for examples of silver jewellery; I put on my gloves and sit
on the floor with a comfortable pillow and sort through the pieces.

My criterion for selection is that it should be old Omani silver and handmade. I may use an object that was originally worn by a man and then incorporate it into a design worn by women. I am all for recycling old silver. Ninety per cent of my customers are Europeans although Omani women customers are starting to embrace the jewellery as well. I never repeat my designs.

Painting is definitely my favourite past time although I love making jewellery because of my love of silver. I used to give customised jewellery to my friends as gifts on special occasions and the hobby eventually became a business.
Jewellery making preoccupies me throughout the day. It is like oxygen to me.

Caring for the community

My paintings as well as my jewellery can be seen in Muscat at the Bait al Muzna gallery, the American Dental Centre at Al Massa Mall, the Chedi Hotel, and the Shangri La Barr-al Jissa Resort and Spa. I also display my jewellery at Raz Salon and at the Bait al Zubair museum.

I am planning to give courses in jewellery-making at private colleges in Oman. I am also interested in environmental issues. I have stored stacks of newspapers at my house and
I would like to conduct art workshops for children and use these newspapers as part of the project.

I have volunteered for two years with the Sidab Women's Sewing Group – a local organisation consisting of women sewing calico shopping bags and products. I am responsible for designing and ensuring good quality products.

I had always wanted to work with a local organisation and feel very proud and happy to be associated with them.

– As told to Priyanka Sacheti, an Oman-based freelance writer