MEET: OMAR BUAISHA

Omar BuAisha is a striving photographer based in Khobar. We asked him a series of questions surrounding himself, his work, and art in general.
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Describe yourself and your work.
I am Omar Haitham BuAisha, I'm studying abroad in the United States. One of my biggest hobbies is photography; I also have a passion for various other art styles, including calligraphy. Since the beginning of high school, I've always taken part in social services and volunteer work. My father, Haitham BuAisha, is an entrepreneur who had a major role in launching Sahara Net in 1989, the first internet provider in Saudi Arabia, therefore I feel that it's really a big part of me to strive and work hard for success.

When did you start doing photography and why?
I began photography while I was in elementary school, I was always in charge of taking photos during field trips with my class. Ever since then, photography grew to be one of my favorite passions. Towards the end of elementary school, my parents had invested in getting me a more professional camera, as opposed to the disposable one I had grown accustomed to using; this was a major leap in pursuing my hobby of photography. In 2011, I took an educational photography course in California with the renown American photographer Mike Steele. Mr. Steel, who won an award as the best photographer in 2011 in California, helped me develop my skills and allow them to grow for many years to come. Since then, I've been practicing my photography as I showcase my work in various art galleries around the country.

What difficulties do you face being an artist in Khobar?
Although there were difficulties pursuing my hobby throughout the years, none of them really posed as a major obstacle that I couldn't overcome. Some of the challenges included the simple lack of people in the local photography community, and when it came to the more renown artists, they most often kept to themselves (from my experience, that is.) So it was difficult to make connections with peers who had similar interests. However, I do believe that things have been changing slowly over the years. People are beginning to take part in more extracurricular activities, and that includes photography! So I'm very excited to get involved with this ever-growing community in the years to come.

What changes would you like to see happen for the art world in Khobar?
I would very much like to see more artists, or potential artists, take part in the various activities, events, and showcases around the city. I'm very optimistic in regards to how much the community is getting involved with the arts, so I hope that someday soon the city of Khobar may be a place that people recognize as one of the major centers of art and expression throughout the kingdom. These positive changes are already in the process of taking place, all that's left is to keep being optimistic and keep working hard.

Make sure to check him out!

omarbuaisha.com