Drawing Inspiration from the Symbolic Meanings of Taif Roses in Creating Contemporary Conceptual Artworks

Abstract

The Taif rose represents an aesthetic and cultural approach, as it is closely associated with the city of Taif and holds a strong presence within collective memory and Saudi identity. The research is based on drawing inspiration from its sensory and symbolic meanings to produce contemporary conceptual artworks that move beyond the direct visual representation of the rose toward a deeper interpretation of its meanings. The importance of the subject lies in the inclusion of the cultural practices related to Taif roses on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which confirms its value as a local cultural heritage that can be reinterpreted within the context of contemporary art practices. The research focuses on revealing the aesthetic, sensory, and cultural dimensions of the Taif rose, and explaining the role of material experimentation in transforming these dimensions into artworks that do not rely on direct visual imitation, but instead invest in meanings related to scent, color, texture, transformation, extraction, and spatial memory. In addition, the research seeks to strengthen the presence of Saudi culture within artistic practice through employing a local natural element that possesses spatial uniqueness and symbolic significance. The practical experiment relied on material experimentation as an approach to producing artworks through investing in the characteristics of the Taif rose and transforming its natural presence into a visual structure that expresses the idea, supports the content of the artwork, and reveals its potential as a source of artistic inspiration, creating a connection between material and meaning within the artistic experience. The findings revealed that the Taif rose possesses aesthetic, sensory, and cultural potentials that go beyond its direct botanical form. The questionnaire's results also confirmed that the research objectives were achieved to a very high degree.