“Hussain Alismail's work regards his birthplace of Alahsa—a significant agricultural region distinguished by an abundance of farms, date palms, and crops. Sunflower seeds featured prominently in colloquial culture and gatherings as icons of this heritage.  

Probing socioeconomic transformations following the 1938 oil discovery in Dammam, including many young men's flight from agricultural work in Al-Ahsa to cities for employment, Alismail presents Felfas (2023). The artist uses sunflower seeds variably in a mathematical equation representing a road trip from Al-Ahsa to Riyadh as an exploration of distance, area, time, and emotional state on these personal and work journeys which have seen constant travel and relocation shape customs and livelihoods across generations. “

For more details: https://miskartinstitute.org/ArtGrants/Details?q=aWQ9MTQ1