Stal Gallery and Studio in Madinat Sultan Qaboos has opened an exhibition that reflects on how memory, identity and belonging shape Oman’s artistic landscape.
'Memories of Place' brings together six Omani artists and one guest artist from Germany, each offering a distinct interpretation of place through personal and collective histories.
Anwar Sonya, one of the pioneers of Omani modern art, inaugurated the event and served as guest of honour. The exhibition explores how landscapes, both physical and emotional, carry traces of time and transformation.
At its centre is a panoramic oil painting by Hassan al Meer, one of Oman’s most established contemporary artists. Known for his explorations of memory and identity, Al Meer reconstructs the Corniche of old Muscat as it once stood between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
His five-metre canvas, developed through archival photographs, oral histories and architectural documentation, evokes a city in transition where crumbling facades and fading maritime hubs float between luminous skies and a sea rich with memory.
Juma al Harthy focuses on Omani craftsmanship and architectural symbolism through his depictions of traditional carved wooden doors. Using simple and grounded compositions, he treats these doors as vessels of protection, time and cultural identity, linking tangible form with collective memory.
Anwar Sonya captures the raw dynamism of social life in a large-scale expressionist painting portraying a traditional chicken contest, a scene rooted in Omani rural heritage. The work radiates with energy and movement, translating a familiar event into a vivid study of community and resilience.
A quieter dialogue unfolds in the seascapes of Adnan al Raisi, whose warm ochres and deep blues explore the coastline as a site of emotional and physical balance. His paintings reflect on the relationship between stillness and passage; and the fleeting boundary between day and night.
Mohammed Mehdi al Lawati blends calligraphic abstraction into play, blurring the line between word and gesture. His layered compositions dissolve legibility, inviting viewers to experience Arabic script as rhythm and texture rather than text.
The exhibition also introduces an international perspective through Janin Walter from Germany. Her ongoing series Be (Have) draws from neuroscience and behavioural psychology to examine how urban spaces influence emotional memory. Walter’s interdisciplinary practice bridges art and science, using participatory methods to reveal how the body retains the social and emotional imprints of place.
Saleem Sakhi brings nature into the conversation with works inspired by the conservation of the Arabian Oryx. His paintings and sculptures reinterpret the Oryx as a symbol of endurance and renewal, transforming it into a vibrant emblem of preservation through art.
“Some works were created in 2025, others reach back a decade, marking ten years of inquiry into memory, identity and belonging”, says Volodymyra Sobolevska, an art researcher exploring contemporary Omani visual culture.
“What distinguishes Memories of Place is its depth. Each artist develops a unique vocabulary of memory, whether through Hassan al Meer’s coastal iconography, Juma Al Harthy’s architectural homage, or Janin Walter’s psycho-conceptual inquiry. Each artist develops a visual language through sustained research. They ask us to look longer, listen deeper and consider what lies beneath form”.
Beyond its artistic resonance, Memories of Place is also conceived as a bridge between art and community. Stal Gallery and Studio, long regarded as a cornerstone of Oman’s contemporary art scene, will extend invitations to schools, universities and colleges, offering guided tours that connect younger audiences with the exhibition’s themes. Tourism groups with a cultural focus will also be welcomed, positioning the exhibition as part of Muscat’s growing creative and educational landscape.
As Oman continues to evolve, 'Memories of Place' serves as both reflection and reminder that progress and preservation can coexist; and that art remains one of the most powerful ways to record and reimagine who we are.
The exhibition remains open until October 31, with free public access daily (except Fridays). Accompanying events include artist talks and guided walkthroughs.
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