ASIR Sands in an Hourglass

HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud sponsors photography book and documentary on the endangered traditions of one of Saudi's oldest regions. Photojournalist Michael Bou-nacklie has recently completed a documented journey across the Asir region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sponsored by HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, the expedition is on a mission to detail the endangered culture of its inhabitants through the release of a photography book and documentary, entitled, Asir: Sands in an Hourglass.

“Recording our heritage is a gift to the future generations of Saudis,” stated the Princess. The province of Asir, located in the South Western region of the Kingdom, is one of the oldest parts of Saudi. With well over a 1000 years of history, Asir is known for its intricate stone/mud architecture and thriving agriculture—a stark contrast to the many parts of the country, which have maintained more of a nomadic lifestyle. In the past twenty years, very little has been done to document the culture of Asir. With heavy urbanization threatening the traditional rural lifestyle, the creators of Asir: Sands in an Hourglass, aim to retain as much of the old customs through the visual mediums of photography and film. Young people (18-35 year olds) have been steadily leaving the area in droves to pursue jobs in other cities or in specific, the neighboring city of Abha. Their departure means a lack in the continuation of the age-old traditions that have persisted for thousands of years.

As a consequence, many of the textiles or traditional crafts are now being manufactured outside the country. Michael Bou-nacklie, the photographer and project creator, spent almost two weeks exploring and documenting his findings in the scenic region. “We documented how the culture of Asir has been changing and who are maintaining the old culture of the region,” he stated. “We also were looking at how the culture is adapting as the final harbingers of the traditional lifestyle become older and eventually will become unable to continue the work they do to educate others on what may be lost in another two decades.” Covering 2000 km crossing from Jeddah to Abha, then Tanoumah, An-Namas, and Khamis Mushait, the team interviewed and photographed a variety of individuals ranging from academics and tribal patriarchs, to female souk vendors and museum owners. The photography book and documentary film following the team during the expedition is expected to debut in various cities around the world, including Riyadh, Dubai, Washington, DC and London. www.bou-nacklie.com