Saudi Arabia is celebrating the launch of the country’s first travelling group exhibition of contemporary art, Art of the Kingdom, currently on show in Brazil.
Displayed at the historic Paço Imperial in Rio de Janeiro, Art of the Kingdom is a groundbreaking showcase of Saudi creativity, introducing global audiences to works by 17 leading Saudi artists from different generations and artistic practices, with the goal of developing a greater international understanding – and appreciation – of the KSA’s continuously expanding creative portfolio.
“Art has the power to unite people and cultures,” shared Mona Khazindar, advisor to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture. “Art of the Kingdom exemplifies this mission. The exhibition not only stands as a testament to the incredible talent of Saudi contemporary artists, but it also creates a platform for them to share their stories and perspectives with the world.” The choice of Brazil as the first venue for the exhibition underlines the international ambition of this initiative. “By launching Art of the Kingdom in Rio de Janeiro, we aim to foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding through art, while celebrating and nurturing Saudi artists’ creativity, and empowering local talents to engage with the world,” Khazindar continued.
Entitled Poetic Illuminations, the inaugural edition of Art of the Kingdom aims to demonstrate the ways in which Saudi Arabia’s history, culture and traditions have shaped the country’s art and artists, giving visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the kingdom’s creative animus and sense the energy and dynamism of such a fast-moving and constantly evolving art scene. The list of participating artists reads as a roll-call of the great names of the moment, from Manal AlDowayan, Filwa Nazer and Ahmed Mater to Ayman Yossri Daydban and Muhannad Shono.
Image courtesy of the artist and Museums Commission of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In an age where people are inundated with a constant flow of images and information from myriad and disparate sources, exhibition asks the question: how do the visual arts contribute to reconfiguring the narratives we construct about society, memory, the past and the present?
Through its carefully curated collection of works, Art of the Kingdom unfurls these complex ideas, guided by the principle that the quintessence of art is ‘poetic illumination’, the ability to illuminate the world we inhabit through creative expression, revealing not just elements of the past, but also dreams, longings and fantasies. “Contemporary Saudi art is very rich in both conceptual perspectives and aesthetic approaches,” explained curator Diana Wechsler. “The plurality of voices that the exhibition brings together synthesises the variety of proposals that inhabit this young and protean artistic scene. I have to say that it has been a beautiful experience.”
Saudi art draws from a wide variety of different themes, from territoriality, history and cultural memory through to spirituality, politics and progressivism. This highly distinctive repertoire permeates the exhibition, which in turn serves as a microcosm of a much larger cultural movement – albeit one traditionally overshadowed in a global art space dominated by Western narratives and post-Orientalism. Only in recent years has international attention finally turned to the exciting contemporary art scene emerging within the Kingdom, a focus reinforced by intensive Saudi government initiatives that include the advent of two biennales and ambitious plans for what will be one of the world’s leading land art venues, Wadi AlFann.
With such a diverse country, it comes as no surprise that the materiality of Saudi artists and their practices is correspondingly varied. Art of the Kingdom encompasses paintings, drawings, photography, videography, performance, sculpture, installations and a whole raft of other creative combinations that reflect the scope and depth of the contemporary art scene. Divided into three sections, each one representing a different cultural throughline of Saudi art, the show enables its audience to experience a multifaceted view of the modern kingdom, its personality and aspirations.
The opening section represents the desert, exploring it as a unique space shaped by both a limitless horizon and an ancient memory, and as a landscape which – despite its apparent inhospitality – has served as a cradle for many creatures and cultures. Those artists featured within consider the desert as part of their own lives, reflecting upon its materiality, atmosphere and metaphysical climate in diverse ways. Saudi cultural traditions are the focus of the second section, which considers the diversity of heritage found across the kingdom’s regions. Through myriad regional variations, common elements emerge and are embodied in the works of the artists participating in the exhibition. Together, they represent – and contribute – to the continuous evolution of the KSA’s unique contemporary visual culture.
While the first two sections focus on the influences that have shaped much of Saudi Arabia’s past, the third and final part of Art of the Kingdom pays homage to the future, and the ongoing transformations taking place within the country. Contemporary views on the environment, the roles of men and women in society, and other current issues are examined through the works of the artists presented in this section, which also reflects upon the influence of Saudi cultural industries and how these have shaped societal habits and tastes across generations.
The various strands running through the Kingdom’s burgeoning art scene are neatly exemplified by the artist Ayman Zedani, who is based between Riyadh and Sharjah and has won multiple awards, including the Ithra Art Prize in 2018 and the Misk Art Grant in 2020. His works challenge humanity’s traditional understanding of the past and acceptance of fate, incorporating elements of video, installation and interactive spaces to posit ideas about the future of the Gulf.
Image courtesy of the artist and Museums Commission of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Zedani’s exhibiting work – the return of the old ones (2020) – is a single-channel video installation that delves into the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. It explores the story of Saudi oil and broadens out to highlight the human impact on the environment and the need for a more sustainable future. By considering the life, death and potential resurrection of the ancient organisms whose remains form crude oil, Zedani invites viewers to contemplate the consequences of their own actions and imagine a more harmonious coexistence with the planet.
“I often employ experimental techniques and innovative materials to create immersive experiences that challenge conventional notions of storytelling and representation,” said Zedani. “Here, I utilise a combination of video footage, animation and sound design to construct a visually striking and emotionally resonant narrative. The film’s non-human perspective and its exploration of ancient life forms offer a unique and thought-provoking viewpoint on the influence of our species on the planet.”
Art of the Kingdom, which from Brazil will travel to The National Museum of China in Beijing, allows visitors to engage with images that simultaneously reveal each artist’s unique perspective and articulate the expression of a shared Saudi cultural matrix. Also highlighting how each artist’s identity contributes to the formation of a distinct visual culture within the fabric of contemporary processes, the exhibition provides a pathway through different aspects of Saudi Arabia’s rich and fascinating culture. “Arriving at the end of this journey, I like to imagine that the public will see Saudi Arabia differently, and that the experience has broadened their horizons,” explained Wechsler. “As the Kingdom proceeds on an unprecedented journey of cultural transformation, Art of the Kingdom offers a unique opportunity to explore the ways in which Saudi contemporary art contributes to shaping new cultural narratives.”
