Saudi Arabia’s renowned Athr Gallery, with locations in Jeddah, AlUla, and Riyadh, is once again in the spotlight at the prestigious Frieze art fair in London. The gallery is showcasing the works of several Saudi artists, contributing to the fair’s rich diversity of global contemporary art. Running from October 9 to October 13, the exhibition titled “Nafs,” which translates to “self” or “psyche,” explores the complex themes of self-perception and Islamic artistic identity.
The gallery’s exhibition lineup includes the work of prominent Saudi artists Nasser Al-Salem, Dana Awartani, Ayman Daydban, and Sara Abdu. The exhibition’s goal, as described by Athr Gallery, is to “challenge existing conventions and foster dialogue on Islamic artistic identity,” while also redefining traditional Islamic art forms. This creative reinterpretation offers new insights into societal structures and human ego, reflecting deeply on the intersection of tradition and modernity.
Nasser Al-Salem: Melding Tradition with Modernity
Nasser Al-Salem, a 39-year-old architect, calligrapher, and artist, is presenting two minimalist sculptures at Frieze London: “Math + Metal” and “Metal Civilization.” These works incorporate his expertise in calligraphy, architecture, and modern art. Athr Gallery notes that Al-Salem’s pieces “redefine Islamic calligraphy by infusing modernity with traditional phrases.”
Although his approach to Arabic writing is conceptual, making the calligraphy less immediately recognizable, Al-Salem maintains a deep respect for the traditional art form. “I was asking myself the question that most calligraphers today ask themselves: How can we evolve from such an ancient and traditional art form?” Al-Salem remarked in a 2019 interview with Arab News. His current works attempt to answer that very question by offering a fusion of tradition and contemporary artistic expression.
Dana Awartani: Sacred Geometry and Self-Reflection
Saudi-born artist Dana Awartani, of Palestinian descent, contributes to the exhibit with sculptures from her “Platonic Solids Duals” series. One standout piece is “Dodecahedron Within an Icosahedron II,” created between 2016 and 2018. Awartani’s fascination with sacred geometry serves as the foundation for her work, which she views as a lens to understand the world. “Through the lens of geometry and numbers, one can see the harmony in nature and the cosmos,” she explained in a recent interview.
The gallery’s curator, Daria Kirsanova, noted that the exhibition’s overarching theme, “Nafs,” relates to concepts of self and ego. “Dana’s cube within a cube shows how you approach the multitudes of your own spirituality,” Kirsanova told The New York Times.
Ayman Daydban: Redefining Borders
Ayman Daydban’s contribution to the exhibition builds on his project for this year’s Desert X AlUla. In that project, he created a rock garden in the shape of a full-size soccer field. For Frieze London, Daydban reimagined the piece into “The Line,” a series of 15 paintings depicting the markings of a soccer pitch. Rather than arranging them himself, he allowed a young gallery visitor to place them at random, reflecting how borders are seen through the eyes of a child. “It shows the idea that borders don’t appear for … a child,” Daydban told The New York Times. “It speaks to the idea that seemingly random people can dictate borders.”
Sara Abdu: Memory as Identity
Saudi-Yemeni artist Sara Abdu’s work centers on the theme of memory and its impact on identity. At Frieze, she presents her series “I Loved You Once,” featuring works made from human hair embroidered onto fabric. This medium, according to Abdu, symbolizes time and serves as a metaphor for the resistance against the fading of memories. “Hair symbolizes time or resistance to the idea of the fading of memories and the ending of a life cycle,” she explained.
Athr Gallery states that her work promotes “introspection and transcendence,” compelling the viewer to reflect on the role of memory in shaping both personal and collective identity.