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MAKKAH: Craftsman Adel Al-Shehri has created a unique decorative plaque inspired by Saudi heritage and embossed with Braille writing.

His creation honors Saudi culture and embraces the concept of inclusivity, driven by a conviction that the decorative piece should be accessible to all, including the visually impaired.

The plaque, titled “My Heritage in Braille,” is designed in a traditional style that reflects the deep-rooted culture of ������Ƶ.

It features a globe in its center surrounded by artistic motifs reflecting the concepts of universality.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Shehri spoke about the inspiration behind his selected materials and design choices.

He crafted the plaque from luxurious walnut and mahogany woods, prized for their durability and rich, elegant grain.

It wasn’t easy, but through countless experiments and careful refinements, I achieved a delicate balance between tactile clarity and visual elegance.

Adel Al-Shehri, Saudi craftsman

He added subtle metal inlays to complement the aesthetics and highlight the geometric details with contemporary flair.

The plaque’s base features a stepped circular design, inspired by the shape of ancient terraces found in historical buildings in the Kingdom.

Incorporating Braille into the design proved to be a challenge for the craftsman. The reading system, which features raised dots that are read by touch, is not easy to recreate on materials like wood and metal.

Braille is usually printed on paper, but adding it to a solid surface requires extreme precision.

Al-Shehri devised a special method to achieve this, using engraving tools that enabled him to shape the Braille dots to the appropriate height (between 0.9 mm and 1.4 mm), while maintaining precise geometric spacing between the dots.

This allowed them to be read by touch without losing their meaning or interfering with the other decorative elements on the plaque.

“This step presented both a technical and aesthetic challenge. How could I create a language that is read by touch and integrate it into a plaque meant to be admired visually?

“It wasn’t easy, but through countless experiments and careful refinements, I achieved a delicate balance between tactile clarity and visual elegance,” he said.

Al-Shehri said that the true purpose of his work is to carry a profound humanitarian message: Art should be accessible to all.

He hopes that his pioneering approach will inspire artists across the Arab world to embrace inclusivity in their work.

RIYADH: Family and friends of Mohammed Al-Qasim, the 20-year-old Saudi student who was stabbed to death in Cambridge, UK on Friday, have been sharing their condolences and memories online.

His relatives have also set up a fundraiser to provide families in need in ������Ƶ with clean water as a tribute. At the time of writing it had raised more than SR30,000 ($8,000).

Al-Qasim was on a 10-week placement at the EF International Language Campus in the city when he was killed. Two men from Cambridge have been arrested on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender.

Al-Qasim’s uncle, Majed Abalkhail, said on X that his nephew’s death “has been a huge shock for all of us — especially since Mohammed came to Cambridge as a student, carrying nothing but dreams and hopes for the future.”

“We truly hope … that this will be the last such tragedy, and that full justice will be served, with everyone responsible held fully accountable. May Allah have mercy on Mohammed and grant him the highest place in paradise.”

Abalkhail described his nephew as “a young man raised upon goodness, and our hearts still weep over his loss.”

Al-Qasim’s sister, Jana, wrote on X that he was “a man worth a thousand men, the true meaning of support, strength, and dignity.”

“I never knew the taste of fear for a single day, because I knew Mohammed was my backbone and my support after Allah,” she said.

“With the magnitude of his pride and love for me, I was proud of him and loved him many times more. Since our childhood, I would hear that brothers often annoy, quarrel, and fight with their siblings, but by Allah, he never raised his voice at me once, and I never saw from him anything but kindness and love.”

Another sister, Thekra, said: “O Allah, your servant Mohammed Al-Qasim was the best of brothers. Kind, gentle, and fearful of you among us. He never once raised his voice since the day my mother gave birth to him until you took him back to you.”

Abdallah Al-Matrafi, who described himself as a neighbor of the family, said on X that Al-Qasim’s “late father, his brothers and his sons are among the finest people we have known in manners, character, appreciation, respect, and good neighborliness.”

“To this day, we remember them fondly, and we will continue to do so for the rest of our lives.”

Professor Fahad Al-Olayan said: “May Allah have mercy on Mohammed. I was honored to have him as one of my students at the university last semester. He was a hardworking student, eager to learn.”

Nawaf Al-Darrab, a friend of Al-Qasim, said he knew the young man to be “close to Allah … always smiling, committed to his prayers, and forgiving toward everyone.”

“Until we meet again, my beloved and my brother, in the highest paradise with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous — what an excellent company they are.”

In a public statement, his family described Al-Qasim as a “young man brimming with enthusiasm, with chivalry, and courage,” and said he was “the family’s charisma” and “his father’s support.”

“He was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mother’s heart,” they said.

The fundraiser set up in Al-Qasim’s name can be found at https://ehsan.sa/donationcampaign/details/1828254.