Latest news with #HaythamNawar
CairoScene
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Diriyah's ‘Maknana' Exhibit Reclaims New Media Art Through Arab Lens
Diriyah's 'Maknana' Exhibit Reclaims New Media Art Through Arab Lens As an emerging medium, New Media Art is often associated with globalised aesthetics and Western art institutions—but a new exhibition at Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) in Saudi Arabia rewires that narrative. 'Maknana', a term derived from the Arabic word for "automation," gathers 50 Arab artists to explore how digital technologies, from AI to early computer graphics, can map a cultural landscape where the Arab creator stands fixed in the centre. The exhibition demonstrates an authenticity and originality of expression that is neither borne out of Western imitation nor a grasping for a reclaimed past. Curated by Dr. Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, the show foregrounds Arab artists as the architects—not recipients—of New Media's evolution, treating technology as both canvas and co-creator. As the second exhibition at DAF, 'Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World' reflects the hub's ongoing commitment to stimulating the digital art ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The name alone feels more like a thesis than a title, capturing the versatility of technology in an artistic context, being—as the curators put it—'a medium for exploration, a tool in the production process, or even a collaborative nonhuman partner in the creative output.' Beginning with the early experiments of the 1960s, across the scale-up art movement of the 1990s, to the cutting-edge digital, robotic and AI-enhanced productions of the 21st century, the definition for New Media Art is as expansive and inclusive as the collection implies. 'New Media Art can be an umbrella term for an open-ended genre of artistic practice that utilises emerging technologies,' the curators explain. Yet, there remains a more urgent definition of New Media Art - one that is proffered by Dr. Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis in their curation. For Arab artists, these new mediums have represented and continue to represent an urgent challenge to traditional western-centric forms of art and create new modes of expression that assert Arab origin. 'We felt that the research and selection process was like an archaeological act,' Nawar and Younis reveal. 'It also aimed to make the micro-histories of new media art related to the Arab World more visible.' Unfolding over four themes—Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch—each piece represents and provokes an excavation of art, humanity, society, and the machine. The Automation section seeks to investigate the logic of systems and machines—and how this logic is reflected and utilised in creative practices. Autonomy then takes the factual narrative of Automation and transforms it into a treatise on personal and political expression. In Ripples, the cross-cultural, multidisciplinary, and trans-chronological nature of new media art is illustrated throughout the section. And finally, in Glitch, the errors and disruptions which accompany new technologies are re-coded as metaphors for Arab resilience and adaptation. 'Arab artists represent a refreshingly dynamic and diverse range of views and practices that are in direct conversation with the political and social scenes they emerged within,' the curators explain. 'Every project in the exhibition is full of meanings, as much as of technological manoeuvres, exploration, or manifestation.' The scale feels profound, but the effect is cohesive. Collectively they dissect, disband, and reassemble the notions of how art is created. While Arab artists, at home or in the diaspora, are uniquely situated to challenge dominant global narratives and paradigms with their art, Saudi artists stand at a unique crossroads of opportunity. Working in a country with a particular abundance of youth potential, armed with unprecedented technological literacy and engagement, there is a sense of talent bubbling in the Saudi arts scene which spills into 'Maknana', and out of DAF. Among the Saudi artists pioneering this New Media rearticulation is Ahmed Mater. At 'Maknana', he provides a collection of media objects that recall the media associated with growing up in Saudi Arabia. His art pushes the boundaries of 2G phones and bluetooth connections to their expressive limits, paying witness to the modernisation and expansion of media in the Kingdom. Muhannad Shono employs a robotic creative which constantly migrates and transforms in its location, whilst Mohammed Alsaleem's early computer drawings, created via Paint software, provide a digital version of his signature 'horizontal' shapes. Ruba Al Sweel provides a collection of video material collated from Saudi internet and cell phone culture. Abundant in glitches and digital economy, they offer a unique insight into the experience of crisis in the digital age, through digital means. Finally, we enter the present day with ARC's (Abdullah Rashed) work on NFTs, which utilises and addresses the emerging aesthetics of internet art. Accompanied by a comprehensive public programme, DAF continues to position itself as both an archive of Arab artistry and an aperture for the artists of tomorrow. 'Ultimately,' the curators say, 'we want visitors to leave with a renewed appreciation for the richness of Arab contributions to New Media Art, and a broader understanding of how technology can be both a tool of creation and a medium of reflection.' The exhibition will run at Diriyah Art Futures, situated near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, until July 19th, 2025.
Arab News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Diriyah Art Futures' architectural innovation on show at Venice exhibition
The MENA region's first new media arts hub, Diriyah Art Futures, inaugurated 'The Light Footprint,' an exhibition in collaboration with Italian architecture studio Schiattarella Associati. The exhibition, which runs until June 15, coincides with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 and explores the architectural development of DAF's groundbreaking headquarters in Riyadh. Curated by Marta Francocci, 'The Light Footprint' is hosted at Venice's prestigious Querini Stampalia Foundation and presents architectural models, sketches, videos, drawings, photographs and archival objects, to highlight the development process of DAF's remarkable headquarters. The opening event brought together Mona Khazindar, adviser to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture; Haytham Nawar, director of DAF; and Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella, principal architects of Schiattarella Associati, for a guided curator-led tour of the exhibition, highlighting the building's architectural and conceptual vision. Designed by Schiattarella Associati, the DAF hub sets a new benchmark for developing technologically advanced cultural landmarks, which integrate historical context with forward-thinking architectural design. Carved into the escarpment of Diriyah, the design draws on Najdi traditions, local materials, and a philosophy that prioritizes sustainability, cultural resonance, and human connection. Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, DAF is an arts, research and education hub driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of science and technology. DAF's 6,550-square-meter hub is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, symbolizing Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop forward-looking institutions, with strong roots in the nation's unique cultural heritage. Khazindar said: 'We are pleased to present our vision for Diriyah Art Futures alongside the prestigious launch of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025. This pioneering project embodies our efforts to develop forward-looking cultural institutions, which foster bold experimentation and new forms of creative expression, rooted in our distinct heritage. Through projects like Diriyah Art Futures, we are establishing new benchmarks for contemporary cultural institutions, while transforming the Kingdom into a leading global capital for cultural exchange.' In a statement, Amedeo and Andrea said: 'Our work begins with the belief that architecture must resist the global flattening of cultural identity by embracing the uniqueness of place. With Diriyah Art Futures, we sought to create something deeply rooted in the local context, which draws on natural materials, historical continuity, and the values of the Najdi tradition to build a contemporary language tied to its environment. Rather than imposing form, we envisioned a complex that harmonizes with the land, placing nature, humanity, and cultural distinctiveness at the center. Through a balance of geometry and unpredictability, we embrace contradiction as a vital, life-giving force in the architectural process.' The contents of 'The Light Footprint' exhibition are also featured as part of the collective exhibition 'Intelligens Naturale, Artificiale,' curated by Carlo Ratti at Arsenale, part of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025.
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Diriyah Art Futures, Schiattarella Associati Inaugurate 'The Light Footprint' Exhibition in Venice
The Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the MENA region's first New Media Arts hub, inaugurated on Thursday "The Light Footprint," an exhibition in collaboration with Italian architecture studio Schiattarella Associati. The exhibition's launch, which runs until June 15, coincides with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 and explores the architectural development of DAF's groundbreaking headquarters in Riyadh, said DAF in a statement. The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation and presents architectural models, sketches, videos, drawings, photographs, and archival objects to highlight the development process of DAF's remarkable headquarters. The opening event brought together Advisor to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture Mona Khazindar, Director of DAF Haytham Nawar, and Principal Architects of Schiattarella Associati Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella for a guided curator-led tour of the exhibition, highlighting the building's architectural and conceptual vision. Designed by Schiattarella Associati, the DAF hub sets a new benchmark for developing technologically advanced cultural landmarks that integrate historical context with forward-thinking architectural design. Carved into the escarpment of Diriyah, the design draws on Najdi traditions, local materials, and a philosophy that prioritizes sustainability, cultural resonance, and human connection. Khazindar stated: "We are pleased to present our vision for Diriyah Art Futures alongside the launch of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025. This project embodies our efforts to develop forward-looking cultural institutions that foster bold experimentation and new forms of creative expression rooted in our distinct heritage." "Through projects like Diriyah Art Futures, we are establishing new benchmarks for contemporary cultural institutions while transforming the Kingdom into a leading global capital for cultural exchange," she added. Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella said: "Our work begins with the belief that architecture must resist the global flattening of cultural identity by embracing the uniqueness of place. With Diriyah Art Futures, we sought to create something deeply rooted in the local context, which draws on natural materials, historical continuity, and the values of the Najdi tradition to build a contemporary language tied to its environment." Developed by the Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, DAF is an arts, research, and education hub driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of science and technology. DAF's 6,550-square-meter hub is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, symbolizing Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop forward-looking institutions, with strong roots in the nation's unique cultural heritage.
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Spotlight on Saudi architecture at Venice Biennale panel
RIYADH: A discussion on Saudi architecture will be held on the sidelines of the Venice Biennale of Architecture on May 7. Diriyah Art Futures, or DAF, announced their collaboration with Italian architecture firm Schiattarella Associati to host a panel in Venice, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The panel, titled 'A New Era for Art in Saudi Arabia: Building Future Institutions and Pioneering Architectures,' will discuss the role of contemporary design and digital innovation in Saudi architecture. Speaking at the panel will be Mona Khazindar, adviser to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture; Haytham Nawar, director of Diriyah Art Futures; and Andrea and Amadeo Schiattarella, principal architects of Schiattarella Associati. The session will be moderated by acclaimed architect and art critic James Steele. The panel talk is part of 'Building of the Future,' an initiative highlighting leading global architectural projects that redefine contemporary design. The panel will be held in the Querini Stampalia Foundation, one of Venice's most prestigious cultural institutions. The event will bring together architects, cultural leaders, artists and media to engage in a dialogue about Saudi Arabia's evolving role in the international creative and architectural landscape. The foundation will also host an accompanying exhibition curated by Schiattarella Associati displaying models, sketches, videos, drawings, photographs and objects, inspired by the rocky escarpment of Diriyah's landscape. The exhibition, from May 7 to June 15, will showcase the Saudi Museums Commission's contributions to Riyadh's cultural development as part of Vision 2030. Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission in partnership with Diriyah Co., DAF contributes to the global new media and digital art landscape by integrating regional voices and pioneering practices in art, technology and innovation.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
‘Maknana' exhibition at Diriyah to feature works of over 40 Arab artists
Diriyah Art Futures, the first new media arts hub in the MENA region, has announced its second major exhibition titled Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World. Co-curated by artists and curators Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, the exhibition will run from April 21 to July 19 at DAF at Diriyah, Riyadh. Bringing together works by more than 40 artists from the MENA region, the exhibition features pioneering voices from across the region who have embraced and redefined technology as a medium for creative expression. The exhibition includes notable Saudi artists such as Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono, and ARC (Abdullah Rashed), whose practices reflect the Kingdom's dynamic and evolving relationship with new media. They are joined by influential artists from across the region such as VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr, Egypt); Emily Jacir (Palestine); Akram Zaatari (Lebanon), Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar (Egypt), Hassan Meer (Oman), Hicham Berrada (Morocco/France), Mona Hatoum (Palestine), Walid Raad (Palestine) and Farah Al-Qasimi (UAE). Spanning decades and disciplines, from early video art and experimental film to generative systems and expanded media, Maknana offers a rare survey of how Arab artists have engaged with and reimagined the digital landscape on their own terms. The Arabic term 'Maknana,' translated as automation, inspires the exhibition's central inquiry: how Arab artists have navigated, repurposed, and challenged technologies to shape their own creative vocabularies. The exhibition is structured across four thematic sections, Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch, that trace recurring artistic concerns and gestures across different generations, geographies, and technological paradigms. Highlighting a dynamic constellation of artistic practices, Maknana includes rare archival works, recent digital experiments, and new commissions from artists working across the region and diaspora. Their works engage with urgent sociopolitical contexts, from networked resistance and machine logic to memory preservation, speculative ecologies, and glitch aesthetics. In tandem with the exhibition, Diriyah Art Futures will present a public program of talks, performances, screenings, and workshops, expanding on the themes of Maknana and offering visitors direct engagement with artists and thought leaders in the field of new media art.
