Latest news with #GoodWater
Leaders
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Saudi Pavilion Shines at London Design Biennale with 'Good Water'
The Saudi National Pavilion, themed 'Good Water,' captivates visitors at the London Design Biennale, which opens today. This innovative pavilion reimagines humans' relationship with water, addressing critical issues such as accessibility, equity, and scarcity. The Architecture and Design Commission commissioned this project, with support from the Ministry of Culture. Under the leadership of CEO Sumayah Al-Solaiman, this marks the Kingdom's fourth participation in this prestigious event. A Vision of Inquiry and Collaboration 'In a Biennale that explores the intersection of inner experiences and external influences, 'Good Water' reflects the spirit of inquiry we hope to share with the world,' Al-Solaiman stated. She emphasized the pavilion's role in supporting the next generation of Saudi practitioners, providing platforms that amplify their voices on the international stage. Saudi artists Alaa Tarabzouni, Dur Kattan, Fahad bin Naif, and Aziz Jamal collaborated as co-curators, merging their diverse backgrounds in the arts sector. 'In our team, we don't have specific roles,' Jamal explained. 'We all collaborated on everything. We shot the video together and wrote it together. Our democratic process fosters creativity without strict guidelines.' At the heart of the Saudi contribution in London lies the sabeel, a traditional water fountain typically found in shaded communal spaces. This fountain serves the community, offering free access to water. The sabeel symbolizes hospitality and generosity, deeply rooted in the Arabian Peninsula and prevalent throughout the Middle East. 'Growing up in Dhahran, you would see sabeels everywhere,' Jamal recalled. 'Our house didn't have one, but a mosque nearby did.' The London installation transforms the sabeel from a nostalgic relic into a contemporary, functional object. Visitors can fill their cups, both literally and figuratively, as they reflect on the unseen systems, labor, and energy that make flowing water possible. Engaging Visitors with Interactive Experiences Stacks of paper cups, emblazoned with the message 'Good Water: 500 ml = one AI prompt,' will be available in vibrant colors. Refillable water bottles will encourage spectators to enjoy a 'water-cooler moment' to chat, sip, and ponder. The pavilion also features four videos filmed at an old water factory in Riyadh, showcasing the painstaking journey of water from droplet to distribution. Each film lasts under ten minutes, tracing the production process across various bottle sizes. Jamal's perspective on water changed significantly while working on this project. 'Visiting the water factory in Riyadh made me appreciate the enormous effort required to fill one tiny water bottle,' he said. 'Now, I make it a point to finish my water bottle because I understand the extensive process behind it.' A Commitment to Sustainability and Accessibility Jamal hopes visitors will engage with the pavilion and recognize the importance of generosity. 'We want people to drink the water and interact with the piece,' he stated. The sabeel will dispense locally sourced water, ensuring sustainability and reducing transportation impacts. Additionally, a printed catalogue will provide further context through essays, research material, and images of water infrastructure and sabeels from the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia faces significant water scarcity challenges, with only 2.5 percent of the world's water being freshwater. The Kingdom leads globally in desalinated water production, supplying over 60 percent of its potable water. 'The sabeel perfectly illustrates the principle that water is a human right, not a luxury,' Jamal explained. 'It's free drinking water from a private source, embodying the spirit of paying it forward.' Through 'Good Water,' the Saudi National Pavilion highlights the labor behind everyday hydration and the importance of water access. 'Our research focused on water and access,' Jamal added. 'We examined the hidden costs of free water in Saudi Arabia, particularly through the lens of the sabeel.' Despite the rise of plastic bottles, Jamal emphasized the enduring relevance of the sabeel, especially in a country with scorching summers and large outdoor workforces. 'People need convenience, but sabeels remain vital for those working outdoors,' he noted. 'Cold drinking water is essential in Saudi Arabia.' After nearly a year of hard work, the team plans to celebrate by raising a glass of water. The pavilion will remain open until 29 June at Somerset House, inviting visitors to explore the significance of water in our lives. Short link : Post Views: 34
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi pavilion makes a splash at London Design Biennale
DHAHRAN: 'Good Water,' the Saudi National Pavilion that reimagines our relationship with water, is sure to be popular with visitors at the London Design Biennale, which opens today. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Examining water systems, accessibility, equity and scarcity, the pavilion was commissioned by the Architecture and Design Commission and supported by the Ministry of Culture. Presented under the leadership of commission CEO Sumayah Al-Solaiman, it marks the fourth time the Kingdom has taken part in the event. A post shared by London Design Biennale (@londondesignbiennale) 'In a Biennale that explores the intersection of inner experiences and external influences, 'Good Water' reflects the spirit of inquiry we hope to share with the world,' said Al-Solaiman. 'With this pavilion, we are proud to support the next generation of Saudi practitioners and provide platforms that amplify their voices on the international stage.' Saudi artists Alaa Tarabzouni, Dur Kattan, Fahad bin Naif and Aziz Jamal worked as co-curators, collaborating across various disciplines. 'In the team, we don't have specific roles,' Jamal told Arab News. 'We all collaborated on everything. So the video, we all shot together — we all wrote together. We all have different backgrounds in the arts sector but we've worked together (in the Saudi art scene) for the past five years and that's actually how we came together; it's more of a democratic process and there's no kind of strict guidelines.' At the heart of the Saudi contribution in London is the sabeel, a traditional water fountain usually placed and funded privately in a shaded outdoor communal space. It is meant for use by anyone in the community, free of charge. The sabeel is an enduring symbol of hospitality and generosity, deeply rooted in the Arabian Peninsula and found in many spots throughout the Middle East. 'Growing up in Dhahran, you would see sabeels everywhere. Our house didn't have one, but there was a mosque in front of our house that had one,' Jamal said. The London installation strips the sabeel of nostalgia and re-centers it as a contemporary, working object. Visitors are invited to fill their cups — literally and figuratively, as they pause to reflect on the often unseen systems, labor and energy that make the flowing 'free' water possible. Stacks of paper cups will be provided, bearing the message 'Good Water: 500 ml = one AI prompt' in vibrant color. There will also be refillable water bottles so spectators can have a 'water-cooler moment' to chat, sip and ponder. The pavilion also features four videos, filmed at an old water factory in Riyadh, showing the painstaking journey of water from droplet to distribution. The screens trace the production process across different sizes of bottles, with each film lasting under 10 minutes. Jamal's relationship with water shifted since he started working on this project. 'I have to say, watching and going to visit the water factory (in Riyadh) and seeing the enormous effort that it takes to fill up one tiny water bottle — you don't take that effort for granted anymore,' he said. 'Before, if there was a little bit of water in my water bottle, I would just leave it, but now it's like, I make it a point to drink (it) all … to finish my water bottle, because it's not just a matter of just getting the water filled up, it's testing it, going through inspection, doing all the mineral checks. It has made me more conscious of every drop.' Jamal's aim is for visitors to the pavilion to quench their thirst with that same realization. 'What I really hope for is for people to interact with the piece,' he said. 'We want that act of generosity to come through and we want people to drink the water.' The eco-conscious will be glad to know the sabeel will dispense locally sourced water — not any transported from Riyadh. It will also be indoors. A printed catalogue written by the curators will also be available, offering further context in the form of essays, research material and images of water infrastructure and sabeels from across the Middle East and North Africa region. Saudi Arabia is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. Only 2.5 percent of the world's water is freshwater, and even less is accessible for drinking. The Kingdom is the largest producer of desalinated water globally, supplying over 60 percent of its potable water, according to the Saudi Pavilion team's research. 'We thought (the sabeel) was a perfect anecdote to describe the attitude and the general principle behind this concept of water as a human right and not as a luxury,' Jamal said. 'It's free drinking water, but it's from a private source. So we felt it really encompassed this specific phenomenon in Saudi, of paying it forward and offering water to people who don't have access to it.' With 'Good Water,' the Saudi National Pavilion puts this scarcity — and the labor behind everyday hydration — center stage. 'Our research was about water and access to water,' Jamal added. 'When we were first conceptualizing the piece for the London Biennale, we were looking at the infrastructure and water and access and what's the hidden cost of free water in Saudi — and specifically looking at the object(ive) of a sabeel: What does this act of generosity and act of making water into a human right mean, and what is the hidden cost of that?' Though the widespread distribution of plastic bottles has displaced the sabeel to some extent, Jamal emphasized its enduring relevance, especially in a country with scorching summers and large outdoor workforces. 'I think people are on the go, so they need something convenient, but I think water bottles haven't killed off sabeels completely,' he said. 'A lot of the workforce in Saudi, who have more direct contact under the sun and the streets — they still use it all the time. It's not just drinking water — it's cold drinking water, and in Saudi that's very important.' Jamal joked that after nearly a year of working on this project, the team would raise a glass of water in celebration. The pavilion will be open until June 29 at Somerset House.
Gulf Today
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Saudi Arabia returns to London Design Biennale with Good Water exhibition
Saudi Arabia returns to London Design Biennale 2025 with an exhibition titled Good Water (June 5 – 29) at Somerset House, London. Commissioned by Saudi Arabia's Architecture and Design Commission, the pavilion is curated by design collective including Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif. They bring together their multidisciplinary backgrounds in architecture, design and the arts, for the exhibition that questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water, and people's relationship with it. The curatorial concept of Good Water responds to the theme of the Biennale, 'Surface Reflections', which explores how ideas are fuelled by internal experiences, external influences and personal histories. The Saudi Pavilion is centered by a sabeel – a free water fountain, and a symbol of hospitality, deeply rooted in the Saudi Arabian tradition. Historically, the fountains are scattered across the country, providing water to passersby, signifying a communal ethos of generosity. Yet, within the context of the exhibition, the sabeel is no longer only a gesture of goodwill. It asks the question: Who pays for 'free' water? What does it truly cost? And, crucially, if the burden falls on someone else, does it not, in some form, radiate outwards to cost everyone? Water tank on a ledge, photo. According to the show, the sabeel, as a concept, carries a deep contradiction: while it offers water freely, the reality is that the water is not free at all. Every sip is made possible by a complex system of labour, energy, and economics. Potable water is extracted through costly processes, placed in plastic bottles, or transported through networks that demand tireless maintenance and oversight, since the water is meant for consumption. The cost is distributed across various actors, including governments, corporations and workers, among others, but ultimately, it is a cost that some, if not all, must bear. Even those who do not pay for water directly, still share the long-term consequences of extraction/desalination, branded plastic bottles and containers, transport and distribution. The sabeel in the pavilion, therefore, is more than a functional object; it is a symbol of interdependence and highlights the tension between generosity and cost, accessibility and consequence. Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif said that 'the pavilion uses familiar elements to draw attention to water's hidden economies, encouraging the visitors to drink with awareness, to acknowledge the price, and to understand that while the cost of free (good) water is borne by someone else, it truly costs everyone. In cities where sabeel are commonplace, their presence is often taken for granted, their function seen as a simple act of public service. But by relocating this familiar structure to the London Design Biennale, where water scarcity is not an everyday concern, we reframe it as an object of scrutiny. We aim to force a shift in perception, making the invisible visible, the passive active.' Alaa Tarabzouni and Aziz Jamal The Saudi National Pavilion is a flagship initiative of the Architecture and Design Commission, supported by the Ministry of Culture; it reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to contributing to international design discourse and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions. Dr. Sumaya Al-Sulaiman, CEO of Architecture and Design Commission, said: 'Saudi Arabia's return to the London Design Biennale is a new exciting chapter in our commitment to design as a powerful tool for dialogue and cultural exchange and we look forward to engaging in conversations on creativity, innovation, and systems thinking during our second participation in the London Design Biennale.' All the artists hail from Saudi Arabia. Alaa Tarabzouni has a career that spans over ten years in the arts and culture sector. While her background in architecture informs her approach, her main focus is context, which she regards as her primary medium and muse. Her work explores the relationship between art, its environment, and the viewer's experience. Aziz Jamal is a multidisciplinary artist known for an incongruous and experimental approach, blending humour, material and context, to create works that merge the individual with the collective. His practice spans sculpture, video, drawing, ceramics, audio, digital prints and installation, often using found and unconventional materials to encourage new narratives. Jamal's work explores themes of domesticity, time and consumerism, creating a dialogue between the familiar and unfamiliar. Dur Kattan and Dur Kattan Dur Kattan is a conceptual artist whose passion for non-traditional and interdisciplinary programmes has led her on a journey where she crafts artwork that establishes strong connections with viewers. She is particularly drawn to public art and art forms that embrace interactivity, enabling individuals to engage actively with artistic experience. Fahad bin Naif is an emerging artist, whose subject matter derives from examining the urban fabric of his home city, Riyadh. Employing multiple mediums in his interdisciplinary practice, Bin Naif creates large-scale installations and interventions, video works, photography and design, driven by his research of the urban landscape. His innovative design approach earned him the Bartlett's Gold Prize (2017) and in 2020, he won the third cycle of the prestigious Ithra Art Prize. The Architecture and Design Commission, established in 2020, is one of eleven commissions under the Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia, representing disciplines including architecture, urban design and planning, landscape architecture, interior design, graphic design, and industrial design. The Ministry of Culture oversees eleven sector-specific commissions; it is leading a cultural transformation to develop a deep and sustainable creative ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
Leaders
27-03-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia to Participate at London Design Biennale with ‘Good Water' Pavilion
Saudi Arabia will take part at the London Design Biennale 2025 with 'Good Water' Exhibition at Somerset House, according to Arab News. Set to run from June 5-29, the exhibition highlights the hidden costs and economies of water, inviting visitors to reconsider their relationship with water. Curated by a multidisciplinary design team including Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif, Saudi Arabia's pavilion will showcase several artworks revolving around water. 'The pavilion uses familiar elements to draw attention to water's hidden economies,' said the participants Tarabzouni, Jamal, Kattan and bin Naif in a joint statement. Interestingly, the artworks will challenge the traditional concepts of access, distribution and the value of water under the supervision of the Architecture and Design Commission. 'Saudi Arabia's return to the London Design Biennale marks another chapter in our commitment to design as a tool for dialogue and cultural exchange. We look forward to engaging in conversations on creativity, innovation, and systems thinking during our fourth participation in the event,' Sumaya Al-Sulaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, said. The Saudi pavilion will feature a sabeel, a traditional water fountain deeply rooted in Saudi heritage. This fountain serves as a symbol of hospitality and generosity in the Saudi culture offering complimentary water to anyone who passes by. In the light of this, 'Good Water' reintroduces the idea of the fountain, not only as a gesture of goodwill, but also as a significant question: Who pays for 'free' water? What is its true cost? 'The pavilion encourages visitors to drink with awareness, to acknowledge the price, and to recognize that while the cost of good water may be borne by someone else, it ultimately affects everyone. By relocating the sabeel to the London Design Biennale—where water scarcity is not an immediate concern—we reframe it as an object of scrutiny, making the invisible visible and the passive active,' the statement added. The Kingdom previously participated at the 4th London Design Biennale in 2023 through a pavilion titled 'Woven' curated by Ruba Alkhaldi and Lojain Rafaa. Related Topics: Tourism Minister Explores Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah Jeddah's Islamic Arts Biennale Lights Up Ramadan Nights AlMadar at Islamic Arts Biennale Explores Islamic Scientific Heritage Short link : Post Views: 19
Arab News
27-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia returns to London Design Biennale with ‘Good Water' pavilion
DHAHRAN: Saudi Arabia will participate at the London Design Biennale 2025 with 'Good Water,' an exhibition exploring the hidden costs and economies of water, running from June 5-29 at Somerset House. Commissioned by the Architecture and Design Commission, the pavilion is curated by a multidisciplinary design collective comprising Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif. Drawing on their backgrounds in architecture, design and the arts, they will challenge conventional notions of access, distribution and the perceived value of water. Sumaya Al-Sulaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, said: 'Saudi Arabia's return to the London Design Biennale marks another chapter in our commitment to design as a tool for dialogue and cultural exchange. We look forward to engaging in conversations on creativity, innovation, and systems thinking during our fourth participation in the event.' The exhibition responds to this year's biennale theme 'Surface Reflections,' by inviting visitors to reconsider their relationship with water. At the heart of the Saudi pavilion is a sabeel, a traditional water fountain deeply rooted in Saudi culture that provides complimentary water to anyone who passes by. It is seen as a symbol of hospitality and generosity. The sabeel, within this context, represents a paradox. While it offers water freely, the reality is that no water is truly free, the exhibition argues. Every drop is made possible through a network of labor, energy and infrastructure — whether extracted through costly desalination, bottled and imported or transported through vast water systems requiring maintenance and oversight. The cost is absorbed by governments, corporations, and workers, yet the long-term impact is shared by all. In this showcase, 'Good Water' repositions the sabeel not just as a gesture of goodwill, but as a question: Who pays for 'free' water? What does it truly cost? 'The pavilion uses familiar elements to draw attention to water's hidden economies,' said the participants Tarabzouni, Jamal, Kattan and bin Naif in a joint statement. 'It encourages visitors to drink with awareness, to acknowledge the price, and to recognize that while the cost of good water may be borne by someone else, it ultimately affects everyone. By relocating the sabeel to the London Design Biennale—where water scarcity is not an immediate concern—we reframe it as an object of scrutiny, making the invisible visible and the passive active.' In 2023, Saudi Arabia participated at the 4th London Design Biennale with a pavilion titled 'Woven' by Ruba Alkhaldi and Lojain Rafaa.
