Skating in Diriyah

In this mixed-media portrait, Nargis Naqvi portrays a spirited Saudi teenager holding a skateboard against the historic backdrop of Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia. Gestural brushstrokes and luminous washes of acrylic frame the figure, while sweeping Arabic calligraphy occupies the sky above the traditional domes. Naqvi notes the subject refuses to be caged by cultural expectations, finding inner freedom and the urge to fly without compromising her faith. The skateboard itself, detailed with script and floral motifs, grounds this narrative of contemporary youth asserting their agency within a deeply traditional landscape.