Rua bint Ahmed al Fizariyah was only in the fifth grade when a back injury changed her life and led her to rely on a wheelchair. What helped her cope with this drastic transition was her art.
“That’s what the doctor recommended. Before the injury, I was into drawing henna designs. So at first, I continued with the henna designs”, Rua explained.
Soon, the henna-style patterns she created in black on canvas began to include images. One recurring guest in her artwork is the parrot. The moon and the stars also appear often, along with other animals woven into the intricate patterns.
“A long time ago, I used to have a parrot”, she said, reflecting on the memory of the pet that continues to inspire her work.
Rua has been drawing since 2004, when her injury happened and her talent has taken her far. She has participated in art exhibitions in Switzerland and across the GCC. Some of her artwork is even registered under intellectual property rights. Her pieces attract buyers from abroad, especially from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia —where, during one exhibition, every single one of her paintings was sold.
Her wish for fellow artists is simple yet powerful: to preserve and express the Omani identity through their art.
Many of Rua’s paintings feature flying birds.
“I love nature and I love watching birds fly”, she said.
Ask her about her favourite place in Oman to enjoy nature and she answers without hesitation: “Salalah”.
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