The first Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale kicked off at the JAX district of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. Announced by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF), the art biennale is now open to the public, which invites local and international artists to exhibit their works until March 11, 2022.
One a kind exhibition in the Kingdom, the first season of the exhibition showcases contemporary Saudi art in a rich dialogue, presenting its perceptions and visions of the global scene. Featuring more than 60 acclaimed artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world, the art exhibition showcases work in a wide variety of mediums, from site-specific commissions to celebrated pieces by leading contemporary artists.
The Biennale brings together Saudi and international artists in a celebration of contemporary culture with an interactive art experience, making it an engaging platform for all.
The theme first edition of the Biennale is ‘Crossing the River by Tracking the Stones,’ and that has been divided into six sections— ‘Crossing the River,’ ‘Experimental Conservation,’ ‘Oceanic Thinking,’ ‘Public Appearance,’ ‘A Whole New World,’ and ‘In Concerning The Spirit’. The theme first edition of the Biennale is ‘Crossing the River by Tracking the Stones,’ and that has been divided into six sections— ‘Crossing the River,’ ‘Experimental Conservation,’ ‘Oceanic Thinking,’ ‘Public Appearance,’ ‘A Whole New World,’ and ‘In Concerning The Spirit’. Curated under the leadership of Philip Tinari (Director and Chief Executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, China), the inaugural edition of the Biennale is supported by a team of international curators, Wejdan Reda (Founder of Sahaba Art Consultancy in Jeddah), Shixuan Luan (Curator at UCCA) and Neil Zhang (Assistant Curator at UCCA).
The exhibition’s name draws its inspiration from the concept of “Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones,” a slogan that emerged during the 1980s as a metaphor for action at a time of social and economic transformation. With various artists showcasing their work, the exhibition is also expected to see participation from prominent artistic and cultural figures including Waela Al-Awar, the chief engineer at Yway Studio, art historians Dr Maha al-Sanan, Dr Nada Shabout, Abdul Rahman Al-Sulaiman, HRH Princess Adwa bint Yazid, Hamza Serafi, and Qaswara Hafez.