Latest news with #LondonDesignBiennale2025
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.
Bahrain News Gazette
26-03-2025
- General
- Bahrain News Gazette
Saudi National Pavilion at London Design Biennale 2025: 'Good Water' Invites Us to Rethink Our Relationship With Water
Closeup of the sabeel fountain, 2025. Photo by Aziz Jamal. Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Saudi Arabia returns to the London Design Biennale 2025 with an exhibition entitled Good Water , from 5–29 June 2025 at Somerset House . Commissioned by Saudi Arabia's Architecture and Design Commission, this year's pavilion is curated by design collective including Alaa Tarabzouni , Aziz Jamal , Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif , who bring together their multidisciplinary backgrounds in architecture, design and the arts, for an exhibition that questions, disrupts, and reimagines systems of access and distribution of water, and our relationship with it. The curatorial concept of Good Water responds to this year's theme for the London Design Biennale, 'Surface Reflections', which explores how ideas are fuelled by our internal experiences, external influences and personal histories. The Saudi Pavilion is defined by a sabee l – a free water fountain, a symbol of hospitality deeply rooted in the Saudi Arabian tradition. Traditionally, these fountains are scattered across the country, providing water to passersby embodying a communal ethos of generosity. Yet, within the context of this exhibition, the sabeel is no longer just a gesture of goodwill, but a 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, cost everyone? 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, imported in plastic bottles, or transported through networks that demand maintenance and oversight. The cost is distributed across various actors – governments, corporations, workers – but ultimately, it is a cost that all must bear. Even those who do not pay for water directly still share in its long-term consequences. The sabeel in the pavilion, therefore, is more than a functional object: it is a symbol of interdependence. It highlights the tension between generosity and cost, between access and consequence. The Saudi National Pavilion is a flagship initiative of the Architecture and Design Commission, supported by the Ministry of Culture, reflecting Saudi Arabia's commitment to contributing to international design discourse and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions. The press kit is HERE . For information contact: Anastasia Lander Pelham Communications [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9411242
Observer
25-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman debuts at London Design Biennale
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is set to make its first-ever appearance at the prestigious London Design Biennale 2025, a global platform celebrating creativity and innovation in design. Representing Oman at this renowned event is 'Memory Network', an artwork by Omani architect and designer Haitham al Busafi, which will be showcased on June 5. This participation is a significant step in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth's broader efforts to highlight Oman's cultural heritage and artistic contributions on the international stage. It aligns with the Sultanate of Oman's Cultural Strategy 2021-2040, aimed at transforming Oman's cultural landscape into a hub of creativity and innovation. Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, emphasised the importance of Oman's participation, stating that it provides a valuable opportunity to present the nation's rich cultural identity through contemporary design. He noted that the London Design Biennale serves as a platform for cultural dialogue, fostering collaborations between Omani and international designers while allowing Oman to engage with a global audience. To ensure a compelling and well-curated presence at the event, the Ministry has commissioned the Zawraq Collective to oversee Oman's pavilion. The collective selected Haitham al Busafi as the lead designer, entrusting him with the creative direction of the pavilion. At the heart of Oman's showcase is 'Memory Network', a piece inspired by the country's deep-rooted pottery heritage. The artwork explores the intellectual transition from tangible heritage to digital preservation, raising thought-provoking questions about the evolving notions of value and the legacy we leave behind for future generations. By incorporating traditional influences into a contemporary design narrative, 'Memory Network' captures the essence of Oman's past while reflecting on its future. Founded in 2016 by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans, the London Design Biennale is a globally recognised platform that brings together designers, cultural institutions and creative thinkers from around the world. The event fosters cross-cultural collaborations and highlights the role of design in shaping a sustainable and interconnected world. Since its inception, the Biennale has attracted top-tier international talent, with countries and institutions presenting groundbreaking design concepts that spark meaningful conversations about innovation and progress. Oman's participation in this event reaffirms its growing influence in the arts and design sector, demonstrating its commitment to using culture as a tool for international engagement and sustainable development. By joining the global dialogue on design, Oman continues to position itself as a key player in cultural diplomacy and artistic expression. - ONA
