The spring exhibition at Misk Art Institute, “Brand New Ancients,” features existing works from 17 artists that draw inspiration from both oral and material traditions. This display highlights how history can be revitalized in innovative ways. The exhibition’s curators, Wassan Al-Khudhairi and Cecilia Ruggeri, were inspired by Kae Tempest’s poem of the same name, which tells a story of the past’s influence on future potential.
Tradition is a complex word with varied meanings for different individuals. Contemporary culture, not just among artists, views stories, ideas, techniques, and traditions from the past as tools to address present issues and envision the future. The exhibit parallels this theme by showcasing only existing works. Works from two, five, or even eight years ago can be placed in a different context to bring new life to the artwork through its relationship to the exhibit’s theme and other pieces.
Hamra Abbas, a Kuwait-born visual artist, used lapis lazuli stones from Afghanistan to create a mosaic of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, entitled “Mountain 1.” She used the classical 17th-century Florian marquetry technique of pietra dura, which later became prominent in her local region and used in the Indo-Islamic Mughal architecture style. The 320-kilogram artwork symbolizes cultural exchange and diversity, combining notions and materials from around the world.
Pakistani artist Wardha Shabbir’s miniature painting, “In Search of Light,” uses Lahore’s atmosphere nuanced by bright yellow and orange colors to portray symbols of loss, despair, hope, and survival. The artwork commemorates personal traditions as well as ones handed down through generations, depicting flora native to the region and mapped across the archival paper. Shabbir drew inspiration from her mother’s love for gardening and how the city of Lahore evolved and grew.
Saudi artist Maha Malluh’s presentation, “Riyadh Poem,” is the final piece in her “Food for Thought” series. The artwork is a seven-piece hanging installation made of 156 aluminum pot covers, reflecting traditional motifs within Islamic culture. Saudi contemporary artist Ahmed Mater’s “Ashab Al-Lal: Fault Mirage, A Thousand Lost Years” exhibits layers of glass slide images of the past and present, allowing them to interact instantly.
Riyadh-born visual and performance artist Sarah Brahim’s video installation “Bodyland” depicts the inheritance and generational passing-down of grief through genetics. The exhibit not only showcases recycled crafts from ancient traditions but also incorporates contemporary understandings of heritage, contextualized in modernity. By delving into the past, “Brand New Ancients” aims to carve a path for the future. The artists’ works will remain on display at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Fine Arts Hall in Riyadh until July 15.
The Misk Art Institute exhibition also features works from other renowned artists such as Filipino Pacita Abad, Palestinian Dana Awartani, Mexican Abraham Cruzvillegas, American Derek Fordjour, Kuwaiti Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige from Lebanon, Canada-based Lotus Laurie Kang, Qatari American Sophia Al-Maria, Nasser Al-Salem from Saudi Arabia, and Italian duo Ornaghi and Prestinari.