Battoola

Artwork description

At the center is a woman wearing the iconic Battoola. However, instead of presenting it in its usual muted metallic tones, I transformed it into a pop art/ fauvism of bold, saturated colours, a rainbow-like celebration of identity, heritage, and individuality.

The Battoola is traditionally associated with modesty, strength, and cultural pride, but here I’ve elevated it into a symbol of diversity and vibrancy, suggesting that tradition and modernity coexist in harmony.

Style & Technique
• Pop-Art Influence: The composition is fractured into sharp, colorful planes reminiscent of Cubism, while the bold, flat areas of color and black outlines echo Pop-Art sensibilities.
• Color Palette: The rainbow spectrum, red, yellow, green, purple, blue, and orange—creates a joyful, almost celebratory energy. This breaks away from conventional portrayals of Gulf attire, suggesting freedom and expression.
• Texture: Subtle embossed swirls and paisley-like motifs, using gel medium are visible in the background and some colored areas, adding depth and a tactile quality to the painting. These faintly recall traditional textile patterns, weaving heritage into the modernist framework.

Mood & Impact
The work radiates confidence, strength, and individuality. By placing a traditionally modest symbol (the Battoola) in such a bold, colorful context, are reclaiming it as a statement of empowerment and beauty. The eyes, half-shielded yet striking, invite the viewer into a conversation between past and present, tradition and self-expression.

Overall Impression
This piece feels like a fusion of heritage and modern artistic rebellion, a cultural portrait that is both nostalgic and progressive. It’s celebratory, unapologetically bold, and deeply rooted in identity, yet universal in its emotional impact.

Materials used
Acrylic and gel medium on canvas

Artwork size:
60×90 cm