The Islamic Arts Biennale is a cultural event held at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The terminal is where pilgrims on their way to Mecca gather for their journey, and the biennale aims to create a universal experience for Muslims worldwide while reflecting the particularity of this place. The biennale’s theme is “Awwal Bait,” which refers to the Ka’bah in Mecca, the focal point of daily Islamic rituals and the holy site of which Saudi Arabia is the custodian. The event aims to trace centuries of creativity in Islam, from its inception to the present day, through a combination of historical artefacts and contemporary works.
The biennale is divided into two main exhibition experiences: Qiblah and Hijrah. Qiblah explores daily rituals and acts of faith in Islam through six sections: Adhan, Wudu’, Salah, Salat Al-Jama’ah, Mawt, and Bait. Hijrah, on the other hand, presents specially commissioned artworks that explore the theme of migration. It is presented outside under the tent-like canopy of the Hajj Terminal.
Among the artworks exhibited in Hijrah is A Series of Personal Questions Addressed to a Boat That Sailed Its Last Journey on the Red Sea by James Webb. It prompts meditation on migration, trade, pilgrimage, and identity by asking questions to a salvaged traditional Arabian wooden boat. Another work is Jerba, a deconstructed mosque reduced to its essential elements amidst a pile of gravel that echoes the topography of the Tunisian island of Djerba.
Muhannad Shono’s On Softer Light provides space for reflection on the spiritual realm through a two-part installation of light shone through almost painfully fine threads. Haroon Gunn-Salie’s Amongst Men reflects on the role of Islam in resistance to colonialism and apartheid, featuring a thousand individually cast kufi caps that recreate the funeral of South African imam and apartheid critic Abdullah Haron.
Unknown treasures of the Kingdom are also on display, ranging from ornate pieces of kiswa to pages from a late-9th-century Qur’an. These treasures come from various museums around the world, including the Benaki Museum in Athens and the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan.
Through the works of the biennale, visitors witness the intersection of the past and present. Works such as Sarah Al Abdali’s After Hijra and Joe Namy’s Cosmic Breath create a dialogue between the past and present, promising a future where ritual and heritage continue to live on. The audience’s journey in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad through the biennale’s Hijrah finds its climax in the film In the Footsteps of the Beloved, which premiered at the biennale in March. The film features preeminent Hijrah scholar Dr. Abdallah Alkadi guiding viewers through the Prophet’s journey from Mecca to Medina.