In a remarkable cultural initiative, Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission is set to launch “Art of the Kingdom”, the country’s first-ever traveling contemporary art exhibition, at Rio de Janeiro’s historic Paco Imperial building this week. The exhibition, which will run from November 13, 2024, to January 12, 2025, has been strategically timed to coincide with the G20 Summit in Brazil. It is curated under the theme “Poetic Illuminations,” offering global audiences a deep dive into Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and evolving contemporary art scene.
This exhibition features the works of 17 Saudi artists spanning multiple generations and artistic styles. The pieces, ranging from paintings to installations and video art, represent the vibrancy and diversity of Saudi creativity today. Some of the prominent artists featured include Sara Abuabdallah, Ghada Al-Hassan, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Ahmed Mater, Ayman Zedani, and Nasser Al-Salem, among others.
The “Art of the Kingdom” exhibition will eventually make its way to Riyadh in early 2025, where it will be showcased at the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art in the JAX district. Later in the year, it will travel to the National Museum of China in Beijing.
Mona Khazindar, advisor at the Ministry of Culture, shared in a written statement to Arab News: “The exhibition is a testament to the profound impact that art has on our understanding of history, culture, and community. It not only honors our country’s past and collective memory, but also demonstrates the dynamic role art plays in connecting us to our shared identity, inspiring creativity and dialogue for generations to come.”
The exhibition’s curator, Diana Wechsler, emphasized the importance of exhibitions in expanding horizons and offering audiences new perspectives.
She explained, “Every exhibition must open new horizons for its audience, offering an experience of discovery and challenging habitual thinking. Exhibitions, to me, are also experiences of knowledge. This is especially important here, as this exhibition is the first to showcase a group of contemporary Saudi artists abroad.”
Wechsler handpicked Nasser Al-Salem’s striking “Arabi/Gharbi” (“Arab/Foreigner”) to open and close the exhibition. The large neon Arabic script in the piece serves as both a question and a clue, symbolizing the cultural divide between the contemporary Saudi experience and that of the international audience. “Through each piece, the exhibition unfolds like a revelation — a poetic illumination — exploring various facets of a captivating culture where past and present, tradition and transformation, are interwoven,” said Wechsler.
Muhannad Shono, one of the featured artists, reflected on Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the global art scene, saying: “As Saudi Arabia now invests in its arts and cultural expression, and strives to invite the world in, it’s important that this cultural dialogue does not flow in one direction, but to also reach outwards in an honest and equal exchange of ideas with the world. My role is to continue to express and imagine, not only in my country but beyond its borders … bypassing the perceived lines that separate us and divide.”
The exhibition also features a collaborative piece by artists Sara Abuabdallah and Ghada Al-Hassan, who are a mother-daughter duo. Their work, “Horizontal Dimensions,” explores themes of intergenerational complicity, urban transformation, and shared dreams. They see this exhibition as an opportunity to contribute to the global conversation about cultural exchange and the evolving narratives of their region.
The “Art of the Kingdom” exhibition is more than just a showcase of art; it is a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing effort to place itself at the forefront of global cultural exchange. The show’s impact is set to extend far beyond Rio, fostering greater international dialogue and appreciation of Saudi art and culture.
