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Arab News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
‘At The Edge': Sharp curatorial vision shines in flagship show at first Art Week Riyadh
RIYADH: As the inaugural Art Week Riyadh unfolds across the city, it signals more than just a new entry on the cultural calendar — it marks a shift in how contemporary art is being framed, experienced, and contextualized in the Kingdom. Running until Apr. 13, the weeklong event resists the format of the conventional art fair, instead offering an expansive experience that speaks to Saudi Arabia's evolving cultural identity. The flagship exhibition of the event, 'At The Edge,' brings together over 30 galleries from Saudi Arabia and beyond. Their curated presentations do not merely showcase work — they provoke dialogue, challenge assumptions, and reflect the complex, often contrasting, cultural currents that define both the local and global contemporary art landscapes. Artist Joud Fahmy's piece at the exhibition. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah) The full art exhibition, organized by the Visual Arts Commission, has been curated by Vittoria Matarrese, along with associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit-Lelandais. Upon entering the dedicated space at JAX district in Diriyah, one of the first major pieces you will encounter is 'Le grand miroir du monde' (2017) by French-Algerian artist Kader Attia. Presented in collaboration with Galleria Continua, it marks Attia's first time exhibiting the work in the Kingdom. Attia, whose multidisciplinary practice spans installation, sculpture, photography and video, draws on his dual heritage to explore the lasting impact of colonialism. His work confronts historical and contemporary trauma by examining cultural identity, collective memory and the process of repair — both physical and symbolic. Artist Mohammad Alfaraj with his work. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah) The site-specific installation features fragmented mirrors, layered atop each other, forming a grand, almost puddle-like surface of shards. It reflects the ceiling, the light — and even the viewer. Meant to be seen from a slightly elevated vantage point, the work occupies a large space, reminiscent of a shattered ice-skating rink, gliding — and guiding — visitors into the rest of the exhibition. This leads into an organic labyrinth of treasures, each work nestled in a contained place yet arranged to be in dialogue with its neighbors. Artists, works, moods, materials and voices from across generations and more than 25 countries interact. Joud Fahmy's 'Trapped Emotions: Nostalgia' (2025) — a tactile piece made of dyed wool and rope intertwined with metal — strikes a powerful emotional chord. Fahmy, a Saudi artist represented by Hunna Art, often explores gender, family and cultural identity through mixed media and audiovisual installations. Work by artist Mohammad Alfaraj. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah) Another notable work is 'Dream Coat' (2024) by Greek artist Nefeli Papadimouli, composed of cotton garments and a wooden structure. Based in Paris, Papadimouli blends sculpture, drawing, performance and participatory action. Often working with fabric and soft materials, her architectural, abstract forms echo the visual language of the late Etel Adnan. Her work reflects on how we move through and shape shared environments, investigating belonging, intimacy and collective memory. Riyadh-based artist Maisa Sheldan, who also maintains a studio at JAX, presents a standout installation. A Saudi artist of Palestinian origin, Sheldan explores human issues and collective memory by reconstructing raw materials into symbolic forms that reflect the impact of time. Her work, represented by Hafez Gallery, blends authenticity with contrasts between the visible and the invisible. The seemingly feathered cocoon chair invites you to immerse yourself in the space and swing along. The army of animals, all made from organic materials, is a striking image and one of my favorite works on display. It is playful and tells a story. Representing Al-Ahsa, Mohammad Alfaraj is exhibiting with Mennour Gallery. As always, the use of palms is central to his work. A son and grandson of date farmers, Alfaraj grew up in the world's largest desert oasis. Though he studied applied mechanical engineering at university, he describes himself as 'a poet of visuals.' His upbringing on a farm instilled in him a deep commitment to reuse all materials and to prioritize sustainability. Joud Fahmy's 'Trapped Emotions: Nostalgia' (2025) — a tactile piece made of dyed wool and rope intertwined with metal — strikes a powerful emotional chord. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah) Nestled within a smaller area is 'From Earth: Historic Diriyah Materials Lab,' presented by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. A small but powerful space invites viewers to explore the raw materials that shaped Diriyah: mud, limestone, palm fronds, wool and pigments. These natural elements, drawn from the land, speak to centuries of resilience, adaptation and environmental knowledge. The exhibition forces one to separate the materials and highlights them, both in their pure state and their crafted forms: mud transformed into bricks, palm fronds woven into objects, plants used to create vibrant pigments. Far from being relics, these materials remain living resources that breathe life into the works that they are used for. 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to be a part of an initiative that really is creating a platform that will give voice to practitioners from Saudi Arabia,' Dina Amin, CEO of VAC, told Arab News regarding the activations. 'Art Week Riyadh is creating a wonderful moment for the people of Saudi Arabia to really be able to engage in many ways through the exhibitions: through the different locations, through the talks, through the workshops, through the open studios,' she added. Amin also shared a personal experience: 'The other day, I was walking around and popping into the studios, and it's just absolutely wonderful to see the variety of language that each of the artists uses in his or her own work. 'For us, Art Week Riyadh is really about creating a moment of gravitational pull where we can bring all of the different practitioners together. What we really are celebrating here is everybody's voice. We want to share our creativity, our culture, our engagement with art with the world, but we also want to invite everyone to come and discover it.'
The National
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Art Week Riyadh: First city-wide event is proposing a new way of discovering art
In Le grand miroir du monde, or the great mirror of the world, thousands of mirrored shards are arranged in a rectangle spanning several metres. The work by Algerian-French artist Kader Attia captures the fragmented state of the world while also suggesting that something new and beautiful may arise from the broken pieces. The installation is the opening piece of Art Week Riyadh's curated section at the Jax District. The scale and nature of the work effectively and immediately set the tone of the event. It makes it clear from the outset that the inaugural Art Week Riyadh is not an art fair. Rather, the event presents something new – a city-wide initiative that aims to celebrate and bolster the Saudi capital's art scene. 'We thought about ways in which we could create platforms that would allow for connectivity, increased awareness, dialogue, debate, exchange, and at the same time, shed a light on the many actors that play a part in the arts landscape of Saudi Arabia,' Dina Amin, chief executive of the Visual Arts Commission, says. 'We envisioned and envisaged an art week that would be a new model, which would move away from the traditional format of being a commercially inclined event and one that would be culturally focused,' she says. This position is particularly evident in At The Edge, the curated section of Art Week Riyadh and the centrepiece for the event. More than 30 local and international galleries are showcasing works as part of the curated section at the Jax District. By not basing their selections on the priority of sales, galleries are instead all putting their best foot forward. Most of the works presented are grand in scale and teeter towards the conceptual. The exhibition is a bit like an all-star show, featuring several top names from the local and regional arts scenes. Galleria Continua is showcasing a series of works by Ahmed Mater that were produced using plastic toy gun caps, with a series of panels that spell out the words hilm (dream), hurriya (freedom) and salam (peace). Tabari Artspace is presenting Lulwah Al Homoud's 100 Names of Allah, which proposes a universal geometric language that takes cues from Ibn Muqlah's Proportional Cursive Script and the mathematical principles of the Vedic Square. Lawrie Shabibi is showcasing untitled works by Shaikha Al Mazrou that are emblematic of her use of painted metal to explore form, space and abstraction. Perrotin is showing Monira Al Qadiri's hand-blown glass series, which draws from the form of the toxic Portuguese man o' war jellyfish. Lisson Gallery is presenting the mixed media works of Wael Shawky, which reimagines familiar landscapes and forms with a touch of magic realism. Efie Gallery is highlighting the large, intricate textile works of Abdoulaye Konate. Ayyam Gallery is showcasing works by Faisal Samra and Safwan Dahoul. Le Lab is presenting paintings and sculptures by Khaled Zaki. There is an arresting work at every turn. 'We wanted to make it inter-generational, not only the youngest or the oldest, really everybody. This was our mission,' Vittoria Matarrese, artistic director and curator of Art Week Riyadh, says. 'With the gallery, it's important to treat them as partners. Too often, we think galleries are just vendors. But galleries are the closest to the artists. They discover them, let them grow, of course they also sell their works, but they also figure out how to put them in museums and institutions. 'The whole idea was really to talk to them and select works that you don't see usually in fairs,' Matarrese adds. 'For example, if you see the Wael Shawky booth with Lisson, this is a museum piece. Who ships this for an art fair? Nobody.' However, it's one thing to bring thought-provoking works, but ensuring a cohesive curation is another. The scenography was a key part in this. With an open space, and minimal divisions, the exhibition organically moves from one gallery booth to another, while also shifting across its three thematic threads: Everyday Life, Landscapes and Motifs. 'We really tried to connect it between the galleries,' Matarrese says. While At the Edge can perhaps be seen as the nucleus attraction of Art Week Riyadh – its initiatives and exhibitions are far more sprawling. Collections in Dialogue, also taking place at the Jax District, is highlighting important collections of three institutions. These include King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra), which is showcasing works by Maha Malluh, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mohammad Alfaraj and Hazem Harb. Art Jameel is presenting works from Ahaad Alamoudi, Hiwa K, Yto Barrada and Mater. The Saudi Research and Media Group is highlighting the development of abstraction in Saudi Arabia, exhibiting artists such as Mohammed Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, Taha Al-Sabban, Raeda Ashour, Rashed AlShashai and Zaman Jassim. The Al Mousa Centre in central Riyadh is also a major site of Art Week Riyadh. Formerly a commercial complex, the centre has grown to become a cultural attraction with 15 galleries. The institutions will be presenting a mixture of group and solo exhibitions especially put together for Art Week Riyadh. Although several exhibitions and events have been set up, it is Art Week Riyadh's public programming that seeks to animate these different elements. The programming includes a series of talks titled How to Art World? Lessons in Value. The talks, curated by writer Shumon Basar, will delve into subjects relevant to the visual arts scene in Riyadh. Participants will include cultural experts from Christie's, Sotheby's Gagosian and others. 'As a visual arts commission, we're dedicated to knowledge, knowledge awareness, knowledge exchange, transfer,' Amin says. 'It's part of our DNA as an entity.' Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait and Muhannad Shono will also be opening up their studios at Jax District to the public this week, allowing audiences to discover their creative spaces and learn more about their artistic processes. 'When we talk about the richness and depth and breadth of everything that's happening here, there's no way we can capture it in one exhibition,' Amin says. 'Part of Art Week Riyadh is really asking that everyone open their doors for all of us to be able to discover what's happening. That discovery will vary from studio to studio, entity to entity. Each organisation has a different language and a different focus. That richness is really important for us when understanding what Art Week Riyadh is trying to do.' Art Week Riyadh 2025 runs until April 13
The National
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Art Week Riyadh: Inaugural city-wide event is proposing a new way of discovering art
In Le grand miroir du monde, or the great mirror of the world, thousands of mirrored shards are arranged in a rectangle spanning several metres. The work by Algerian-French artist Kader Attia captures the fragmented state of the world while also suggesting that something new and beautiful may arise from the broken pieces. The installation is the opening piece of Art Week Riyadh's curated section at the Jax District. The scale and nature of the work effectively and immediately sets the tone of the event. It makes it clear from the outset that the inaugural Art Week Riyadh is not an art fair. Rather, the event presents something new – a city-wide initiative that aims to celebrate and bolster the Saudi capital's art scene. 'We thought about ways in which we could create platforms that would allow for connectivity, increased awareness, dialogue, debate, exchange, and at the same time, shed a light on the many actors that play a part in the arts landscape of Saudi Arabia,' Dina Amin, chief executive of the Visual Arts Commission, says. 'We envisioned and envisaged an art week that would be a new model, which would move away from the traditional format of being a commercially inclined event and one that would be culturally focused,' she says. This position is particularly evident in At The Edge, the curated section of Art Week Riyadh and the centrepiece for the event. More than 30 local and international galleries are showcasing works as part of the curated section at the Jax District. By not basing their selections on the priority of sales, galleries are instead all putting their best foot forward. Most of the works presented are grand in scale and teeter to towards the conceptual. The exhibition is a bit like an all-star show, featuring several top names from the local and regional arts scenes. Galleria Continua is showcasing a series of works by Ahmed Mater that were produced using plastic toy gun caps, with a series of panels that spell out the words hilm (dream), hurriya (freedom) and salam (peace). Tabari Artspace is presenting Lulwah Al Homoud's 100 Names of Allah, which proposes a universal geometric language that takes cues from Ibn Muqlah's Proportional Cursive Script and the mathematical principles of the Vedic Square. Lawrie Shabibi is showcasing untitled works by Shaikha Al Mazrou that are emblematic of her use of painted metal to explore form, space and abstraction. Perrotin is showing Monira Al Qadiri's hand-blown glass series, which draws from the form of the toxic Portuguese man o' war jellyfish. Lisson Gallery is presenting the mixed media works of Wael Shawky, which reimagines familiar landscape and forms with a touch of magic realism. Efie Gallery is highlighting the large intricate textile works of Abdoulaye Konate. Ayyam Gallery is showcasing works by Faisal Samra and Safwan Dahoul. Le Lab is presenting paintings and sculptures by Khaled Zaki. There is an arresting work at every turn. 'We wanted to make it inter-generational, not only the youngest or the oldest, really everybody. This was our mission,' Vittoria Matarrese, artistic director and curator of Art Week Riyadh, says. 'With the gallery, it's important to treat them as partners. Too often, we think galleries are just vendors. But galleries are the closest persons to the artists. They discover them, let them grow, of course they also sell their works, but they also figure out how to put them in museums and institutions. 'The whole idea was really to talk to them and select works that you don't see usually in fairs,' Matarrese adds. 'For example, if you see the Wael Shawky booth with Lisson, this is a museum piece. Who ships this for an art fair? Nobody.' However, it's one thing to bring thought-provoking works, but ensuring a cohesive curation is another. The scenography was a key part in this. With an open space, and minimal divisions, the exhibition organically moves from one gallery booth to another, while also shifting across its three thematic threads: Everyday Life, Landscapes and Motifs. 'We really tried to connect it between the galleries,' Matarrese says. While At the Edge can perhaps be seen as the nucleus attraction of Art Week Riyadh – its initiatives and exhibitions are far more sprawling. Collections in Dialogue, also taking place at the Jax District, is highlighting important collections of three institutions. These include King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra), which is showcasing works by Maha Malluh, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mohammad Alfaraj and Hazem Harb. Art Jameel is presenting works from Ahaad Alamoudi, Hiwa K, Yto Barrada and Mater. The Saudi Research and Media Group is highlighting the development of abstraction in Saudi Arabia, exhibiting artists such as Mohammed Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, Taha Al-Sabban, Raeda Ashour, Rashed AlShashai and Zaman Jassim. The Al Mousa Centre in central Riyadh is also a major site of Art Week Riyadh. Formerly a commercial complex, the centre has grown to become a cultural attraction with 15 galleries. The institutions will be presenting a mixture of group and solo exhibitions especially put together for Art Week Riyadh. Although several exhibitions and events have been set up, it is Art Week Riyadh's public programming that seeks to animate these different elements. The programming includes a series of talks titled How to Art World? Lessons in Value. The talks, curated by writer Shumon Basar, will delve into subjects relevant to the visual arts scene in Riyadh. Participants will include cultural experts from Christie's, Sotheby's Gagosian and others. 'As a visual arts commission, we're dedicated to knowledge, knowledge awareness, knowledge exchange, transfer,' Amin says. 'It's part of our DNA as an entity.' Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait and Muhannad Shono will also be opening up their studios at Jax District to the public this week, allowing audiences to discover their creative spaces and learn more about their artistic processes. 'When we talk about the richness and depth and breadth of everything that's happening here, there's no way we can capture it in one exhibition,' Amin says. 'Part of Art Week Riyadh is really asking that everyone open their doors for all of us to be able to discover what's happening. That discovery will vary from studio to studio, entity to entity. Each organisation has has a different language and a different focus. That richness is really important for us when understanding what Art Week Riyadh is trying to do.'
Bahrain News Gazette
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Bahrain News Gazette
Inaugural Art Week Riyadh to Debut With 45+ Galleries, Invited Collections, Public Program Of Talks & Citywide Participating Exhibitions
Inaugural Art Week Riyadh to Debut With 45+ Galleries, Invited Collections, Public Program Of Talks & Citywide Participating Exhibitions. (L-R) | Bashaer Hawsawi, Warm Space 1, 2018, Red Broom with African Cloth, 49 x 43 x 44 cm. Courtesy of Hafez Gallery and the artist. | Nefeli Papadimouli, Dream Coat, 2024, Cotton and wooden structure, 150 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the artist and THE PILL®. | Wael Shawky, The Gulf Project Camp: Sculpture # 3, 2019, Bronze, 50.8 x 120.7 x 61 cm, 20 x 47 1/2 x 24 in. © Wael Shawky, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. | Kader Attia, Le grand miroir du monde, 2017, mirrors, site specific dimension, Galleria Continua San Gimignano. Courtesy the artist and GALLERIA CONTINUA. Photograph by Ela Bialkowska. | Lulwah AlHomoud, 100 Names of ALLAH, 2018, Silkscreen on archival paper, 40 x 30 cm. Courtesy of Lulwah AlHomoud and LAHAF_SA. | Maha Malluh, September in Paris (from the series: Tradition & Modernity), 2010, C-print in Light box John Jones London, 122 x 156 cm. Courtesy of Galerie Krinzinger and Maha Malluh RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission unveils the program and participants for its inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh , 6–13 April 2025 . The event takes place across key cultural sites, including JAX District (JAX) and Al Mousa Center among other locations across Riyadh, bringing together leading local, regional, and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and art enthusiasts. It is a non-commercial initiative that builds on the foundations of a dynamic art community to cultivate a collaborative landscape where the visual arts will continue to flourish for generations to come. Held under the theme At The Edge and helmed by a curatorial team including Vittoria Matarrese , Artistic Director and Curator; Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais , Associate Curators; and Shumon Basar , Curator – Public Program, the event delves into the dynamic essence of Riyadh, highlighting its vibrant cultural landscape and growing presence on the global art stage. Art Week Riyadh is headquartered in JAX, where the flagship exhibition At The Edge brings together 45+ local, regional, and international galleries, each presenting curated selections that collectively explore the evolving cultural dialogues between Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and the global contemporary art scene: A. Gorgi Gallery (Tunisia) Ahlam Gallery (Saudi Arabia) Albareh Art Gallery (Bahrain) Al Markhiya Gallery (Qatar) L'Art Pur Foundation (Saudi Arabia) AV Gallery (Saudi Arabia) Ayyam Gallery (UAE, UK) Carbon 12 (UAE) Efie Gallery (UAE) Experimenter (India) Galerie Krinzinger (Austria) Gallery Misr (Egypt) Galerie La La Lande (France) Galleria Continua (Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Italy, UAE) Green Art Gallery (UAE) Hewar Art Gallery (Saudi Arabia) Hunna Art (Kuwait) Lawrie Shabibi (UAE) Layan Culture (Saudi Arabia) Le LAB (Egypt) Leila Heller Gallery (UAE, USA) Lisson Gallery (China, UK, USA) Mennour (France, UK) Nature Morte (India) Perrotin (China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, USA) Sabrina Amrani (Spain) Selma Feriani (Tunisia) The Pill® (France, Turkey) The Third Line (UAE) Tabari Artspace (UAE) Wadi Finan Art Gallery (Jordan) At Riyadh's Al Mousa Center , 15+ galleries will present exhibitions specially conceived for Art Week Riyadh, highlighting pioneering artists and emerging talents from the region and abroad: Abdullah Hammas Studio Abstract Art Gallery Ahlam Gallery Alajilan Gallery Alestudio AMA Art Venue Art Arif Gallery Art Connection AV Gallery China Saudi Cultural Art Association ERRM Art Gallery Frame Art Gallery Kadi Art Gallery Kenz Gallery Mahd Alfnon Gallery Marsami Art Gallery Ola Art Gallery Takeib For Arts Tequin Art Gallery WHJ ALLON Wrd Art Gallery JAX will host three exhibitions under the title Collections in Dialogue by invited collections from Ithra , Art Jameel and the Saudi Research and Media Group , offering a rare and expansive insight into Saudi's evolving cultural identity, while emphasizing the critical role of collecting in shaping and preserving visual culture. A series of high-profile talks and workshops at JAX will reflect on themes and questions facing the visual arts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and around the world today. Curated by Shumon Basar and entitled How to Art World? Lessons in Value , the program will include contributions from partners such as Christie's , Sotheby's and Gagosian . A Moving Image program will highlight the medium's capacity to explore personal, cultural and social narratives, featuring works by Theaster Gates , Zineb Sedira , Hicham Berrada , Bani Abidi , Laurent Grasso , Afra Al Dhaheri , Mohamed Bourouissa , Sarah Brahim , Farideh Lashai and Hashel Al Lamki . At JAX, Ahmed Mater , Ayman Zedani , Marwah AlMugait , and Muhannad Shono , amongst other artists, will open the doors to their studios, while resident galleries Athr , Hafez and Lift will present exhibitions, panel discussions, and workshops. The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art will present two exhibitions, Art of the Kingdom and Adaptability Ceramics , workshops and pop-ups. Across the city, Riyadh's newest museums and art hubs will welcome visitors for special programming – The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts , Shamalat. , Hewar Gallery , and the studios of artists Ali Al Ruzaiza , Lulwah Al Homoud , Abdullah AlOthman and others – offering an opportunity to reflect on how Riyadh's past and present converge, shedding light on the dynamic transformation of the city. Press Enquiries: Rania Habib / Zara Doshi: [email protected] / [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9411305
