Saudi Arabia stages first ever Biennale for Islamic Art in Jeddah

The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale is being staged at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. (AN Photo by Ali Khamaj)
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Updated 26 January 2023
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Saudi Arabia stages first ever Biennale for Islamic Art in Jeddah

  • Artworks by 60 established and emerging artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world have been displayed at the event
  • The idea of Islam is the unifying element at the biennale that continues to connects cultures and people throughout the world

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia witnessed a historic moment with the opening of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, which presented historic and contemporary works of Islamic art from around the world.

On the evening of Jan. 22, the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah was filled with crowds of people waiting in eager anticipation. This was not the usual throng of pilgrims that use the terminal each year to travel to Makkah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, but one awaiting the beginning of another voyage — a metaphorical one into the realm of Islamic art through the first-ever Islamic Arts Biennale hosted by the Kingdom. 

The crowd gathered under the impressive canopies of the Hajj Terminal, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which won the 1983 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

The biennial event, which includes many newly-commissioned and never-before-seen works of art, marked a historic moment not just for Saudi Arabia and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation that staged the event, but for the legacy of Islamic art, which has witnessed hardly any large-scale international exhibitions since the 1976 World of Islam Festival in London.

Jeddah’s inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates the legacy of Islamic art in a place close to Makkah, the fountainhead and cradle of Islam, while forging a dialogue between the past, present and future through contemporary artworks by 60 established and emerging artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world, and with over 60 new commissions and 280 historical artifacts. 




A woman walks by a display at the Islamic Arts Biennale staged at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. (AN Photo by Ali Khamaj)

The effect is illuminating, mystical and enlightening in that this biennial, like its theme “Awwal Bait” which means “First House” in Arabic, celebrates the beauty and heritage of Islamic art in the birthplace of Islam.

“The Islamic Biennale, staged in this location at the Western Hajj Terminal, has meaning and anticipation for the future,” Saad Alrashid, a leading Saudi scholar, archaeologist and one of the curators of the event, told Arab News.

“Jeddah is the gate of the Haramain and has a deep history. There is an accumulation of strata of civilization in Saudi Arabia and throughout the ages this area was the crossroads of civilization between East and West and up to the North. Staging the Islamic Biennale here presents to the world the idea of connection between all Muslims and everybody that comes and goes from Saudi Arabia geographically, historically and politically.”

In the same vein, the theme “Awwal Bait” explores how the Holy Kaaba in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah aim to inspire Muslims both culturally and metaphysically to explore their sense of belonging and ponder the definition of home.

“At its core, the Biennale is about giving contemporary objects a home by giving them a lineage and giving historic objects a home by giving them a future,” Sumayya Vally, artistic director of the Biennale, told Arab News. 




Artwork displayed at the Islamic Arts Biennale staged at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. (AN Photo by Ali Khamaj)

“Seeing the Biennale come to life through the voices and perspectives of our artists has been profound,” she added. “Each of them has boldly and sensitively taken on the opportunity of this platform to contribute to an emerging discourse on Islamic arts that we hope will continue.”

Staging the Islamic Arts Biennale was the result of a global effort. More than 18 local and international institutions, including the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, alongside artifacts loaned by other prestigious international institutions with an interest in Islamic Arts, such as Benaki Museum in Athens, the History of Science Museum at the University of Oxford, the Louvre in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Biennale was curated by a multi-disciplinary group of specialists, including Omniya Abdel Barr, an Egyptian architect and Barakat Trust Fellow at the V&A, and Julian Raby, director emeritus of the National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

“It was challenging to find objects that have survived that were made in Makkah and Madinah,” said Abdel Barr to Arab News. “We searched within collections to see how we could create a conversation between historic objects while also keeping in mind the contemporary context and this was the most interesting part.”

Regionally, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation has secured loans for the exhibition from institutions such as the King Abdulaziz Library, the National Museum, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and King Saud University — all in Riyadh — and Makkah’s Museum of Antiquities and Heritage, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and Umm Al-Qura University. From the wider region, works have been loaned from the Al-Sabah Collection and Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah in Kuwait, the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo, and the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, among others. 




Man taking a picture of the artwork displayed at the Islamic Arts Biennale staged at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. (AN Photo by Ali Khamaj)

The viewing experience is mystical, like a pilgrimage in itself. It begins in darkness with American Lebanese artist Joseph Namy’s commission “Cosmic Breath” presenting recorded calls to prayer from countries around the world played together, working as if in unison with the installation across the room by Saudi artist Nora Alissa, titled “Epiphamania: The First Light,” which depicts various black and white shots of pilgrims around the Kaaba shot impressively from beneath her abaya. Nearby is an Islamic astrolabe that is positioned towards Makkah. The trio of works mark the first example in the carefully curated show, demonstrating the dialogue generated from historic and contemporary Islamic works of art.

The structure of the Biennale is divided into four galleries and two pavilions that house artworks regarding daily Islamic rituals and Hajj. These sections intend to evoke both personal and collective emotions about the spiritual life of Muslims around the world. 

Large-scale, newly-commissioned works are found outside around the terminal’s expansive and evocative canopies, amid rays of sunlight and views of Jeddah that periodically include airplanes taking off high into the sky. The works outside communicate with nature and the Aga Khan award-winning architecture of the terminal itself.

Outside are also the pavilions of Makkah and Madinah, which present material from the Two Holy Mosques, Masjid Al-Haram and from the Hujra Al-Sharifa in Madinah. The focus here is on the initial journey that the Prophet Mohammad and his followers took from Makkah to Madinah to escape persecution. The objects on display, once again a mixture of historic and contemporary, shed light on the sense of universal belonging that ensues from the Muslim pilgrimage and journey home afterward.

Surrounding the pavilions are works by artists including Dima Srouji, Shahpour Pouyan, Moath Alofi, Reem Al-Faisal, Alia Farid, and Leen Ajlan. 




Display of Islamic art at the Islamic Arts Biennale staged at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah. (AN Photo by Ali Khamaj)

Of note is Bricklab’s architectural installation “Air Pilgrims Accommodation 1958” inspired by Jeddah’s historic Hajj housing, which Vally describes as a site that “gathered people from all over the world to stay in one place — a place for cultural production and trade.”

“The idea emanating from the works outside is for them to generate invitations for gathering, for discussion and exchange,” Vally told Arab News.

This is reflected in Tanzanian artist Lubna Chowdhary’s “The Endless Iftar” which is a 40-meter-long table inspired by rituals of eating and gathering from around the world during Ramadan.

Also positioned outside is “My Place is the Placeless” by Iranian London-based artist Shahpour Pouyan, presenting three large-scale differently colored architectural domes that represent the three major traces in the artist’s DNA after he took a test that revealed his origins go beyond his native Iran to include Scandinavia, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East.

“It’s about human interconnectedness in an effort to break down ethnic labels and identities,” Pouyan explained to Arab News. 

Like the other works on show, Pouyan’s work reflects not just on Islamic culture but on its universality, its ability to connect beyond the Middle East and offer a unifying force that goes beyond religion, nationality and culture.

As Alrashid states: “Islam is a communication of knowledge and culture.”

He added: “Since the 2030 Vision we sense that we are more welcoming just like the Makkans in the past welcomed visitors during Hajj.

“We are showing the whole world how they can enjoy Islamic art,” he said. “The Biennale is not just an exhibition or something from the past — it continues through culture, through integration with the multiculturalism of Muslims.”

Perhaps the most powerful theme of the exhibition is the idea of Islam and its art across the ages as a physical and metaphorical unifying element that continues to connect diverse cultures and people throughout the world. It is also a way, as Vally stressed to Arab News, “to define what it means to be Muslim from our own perspective, through our own art and culture to the rest of the world and to show how Islam has the power to unite us all, even non-Muslims, through its history, traditions and spiritual practices.”

 

 


Saudi Arabia highlights global humanitarian efforts at G20 Parliamentary Summit in Brazil

Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council took part in the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary Sp
Updated 10 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia highlights global humanitarian efforts at G20 Parliamentary Summit in Brazil

  • Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council made the comments during the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary Speakers held in Brazil

RIYADH: Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, commended Brazil’s initiative to launch the Global Alliance to Combat Hunger and Poverty, affirming that Saudi Arabia has been a member of the alliance since May 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This came during the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary Speakers held in Brasilia, Brazil, focusing on the theme “Parliaments for a Fair World and a Sustainable Planet.”

Al-Sulami led the Kingdom’s delegation at the international gathering, revealing that Riyadh would host the UN Conference on Land and Drought in December.

The deputy speaker elaborated on Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive approach to addressing poverty and hunger through the efforts of the government and the Shoura Council, which have created a social safety net through various support programs, the Social Development Bank, and the contribution of charitable organizations.

On the international front, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian contributions have been substantial, SPA reported. From 1975 to 2024, the Kingdom provided nearly $133 billion in development assistance, reaching 171 countries worldwide. This aid has supported over 7,090 humanitarian and development projects. Currently, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre manages 1,700 projects aimed at combating hunger and poverty around the world.

Al-Sulami highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to workplace equality through its adoption of ILO Conventions 100 and 111. The Kingdom’s laws ensure equal pay and employment opportunities, with no discrimination between men and women in jobs and wages. These efforts have yielded significant results, with female participation in the labor market reaching 37 percent by 2023, exceeding expectations set in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The Kingdom has also provided $187 million in urgent relief to Gaza, along with $1.6 billion in development and humanitarian assistance, according to SPA.

Saudi Arabia launched the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution in partnership with other Arab and Islamic countries, the EU, and Norway, hosting its first meeting in Riyadh on Oct. 30, 2024. Following the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on Nov. 11, 2023, the Kingdom announced another edition of the summit scheduled for Nov. 11, 2024. These efforts aim to achieve an immediate ceasefire, end the Israeli occupation, provide relief to the Palestinian people, and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The P20 summit addressed several crucial topics, including parliamentary contributions to fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality; the role of parliaments in sustainable development; and adapting parliamentary systems to 21st-century governance challenges. Iman Al-Jubreen, a member of the Shoura Council delegation, presented a working paper on women’s representation in decision-making positions, sharing Saudi Arabia’s experience in women’s empowerment.


Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

Updated 13 min 34 sec ago
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Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

  • Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days
  • The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival

RIYADH: Audiences will be spoilt for choice at the Jazan Winter Festival, with 300 fantastic events on the program, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
General supervisor Yahya bin Jaber Al-Ghazwani told a press conference that the festival, under the patronage of Jazan Governor Prince Mohammed bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, included 200 diverse events implemented by the region’s secretariat and 100 by other government agencies and departments.
Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days with events taking place at 42 sites across Jazan city and the region’s governorates.
The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival for performing arts, along with concerts, cultural events, forums, poetry evenings, sports events, waterfront events, and park and heritage events.
On Thursday, the skies above Jazan’s North Corniche witnessed the launch of more than 3,000 balloons in various colors to celebrate the Jazan Winter Festival 2025.
Hundreds of residents, visitors and volunteers marveled at the spectacle, which included artistic formations of illuminated balloons.
The event marks the start of a busy winter season aimed at promoting local tourism in an atmosphere of joy and entertainment.


Northern Borders region experiences unusual start to winter

Hailstorms left parts of Al-Jouf covered in a white dusting. (SPA)
Updated 37 min 6 sec ago
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Northern Borders region experiences unusual start to winter

  • National Center for Meteorology forecasts more rain, hailstorm

RIYADH: Heavy rain, snow and giant hailstones mean the Northern Borders region in Saudi Arabia is experiencing an unusual start to winter.

Video clips shared on social media show hail and snow blanketing areas in Al-Jouf, Hail and Tabuk with the mountains now covered, according to local residents.

Posting a video on X, a user called Sarahh wrote: “Hail suffered heavy hail on 2 November, the desert road between Rafha and Hail turned white. Heavy hail also occurred in Turaif and north of Madinah region.”



While snowfall is not unusual in the region each year, the early onset of winter has taken people by surprise as it is usually experienced in December and January.

“The heavy rainfall, hailstorm, with record-breaking sub-zero temperatures at this time and snowfall as a result … are a pleasant surprise and also an indicator that climate change is real. For those who say climate change is not real, take a peek at the cold weather conditions that Saudi Arabia is currently going through in the Northern Borders region at the onset of winter,” said Riyadh resident Mohammed Al-Harbi.

The weather has also caused flash floods in some areas, while on Friday the National Center for Meteorology forecast: “Dust-stirring winds will blow and moderate to heavy rain accompanied by hail, leading to flash floods in parts of Hail, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, Jazan, Aseer, and Al-Baha.”

Light to moderate rain is expected in parts of the Makkah and Madinah regions, it said, adding that there may also be fog in those areas and in southern parts of the Eastern region.

Meanwhile, winds over the Red Sea will be westerly to north westerly at speeds of 10-30 km per hour in northern and central parts, and southwesterly to westerly at speeds of 10-30 km per hour in the southern part. Waves may reach from 1-1.5 meters with thunder clouds forming in the latter, with calm to choppy waters.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northerly to northwesterly, reaching 10-40 km per hour. Waves may range from 1-2 meters and the sea will be relatively calm.


Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti speaking at the "A World Without Hunge
Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

  • Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti says agriculture is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development
  • He was speaking at the "A World Without Hunger” conference in Addis Ababa

RIYADH: The Kingdom sees agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting economic growth, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said this week.

Al-Mushaiti led the Saudi delegation to the three-day “A World Without Hunger” conference that began on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During his conference speech, Al-Mushaiti said that agriculture also played a key role in job creation and prosperity for local communities. This came through the strengthening of farmer support systems and the promotion of modern agricultural practices to increase production and improve efficiency, ultimately achieving food security.

“The significant progress made in science, innovation and modern technologies has contributed to addressing many urgent global food challenges,” Al-Mushaiti said. “However, the advancement achieved in enhancing food security remains insufficient. This underscores the crucial importance of intensifying global efforts and activating policies to develop practical and effective solutions.”

The deputy minister said that direct food aid and humanitarian relief efforts had played a key role in providing short-term solutions to food insecurity in many countries. He said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center had implemented about 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide, reflecting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and support for peoples facing severe conditions.

Al-Mushaiti said that boosting investment in the agriculture and food sectors had become paramount to building a world free of hunger. This could be achieved through adopting innovation and modern farming techniques, as well as providing flexible financing solutions to increase production and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.

“The Kingdom welcomes agricultural investments in all fields and offers incentives and support for investors globally,” Al-Mushaaiti said. “We seek to expand agricultural investment in countries with competitive advantages, abundant natural resources and growing markets, to leverage integrated agricultural capabilities and create more job opportunities toward achieving food security.”

Al-Mushaaiti stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation and engagement with global organizations, in addition to promoting fair trade in line with WTO standards. This, he said, would contribute to building a world free of hunger, alongside other essential steps such as exchanging best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, and enhancing infrastructure and social safety net programs.

Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom had taken several steps in this direction. This included launching programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to increasing the income of small-scale farmers and improving their living standards, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority“Monsha’at” Authority to support micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector, through financing, training and job opportunities, and other ambitious projects and programs that worked to support the agricultural sector and activate its contribution to achieving food security.

The “A World Without Hunger” conference was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, to discuss topics related to the agriculture, food production and technology sectors, as well as food security, finance, food safety, infrastructure and more.


Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

Updated 08 November 2024
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Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.

Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.

Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.

“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.

“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”

Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.

Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.

“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”

Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.

Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.

Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.

Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.

The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.

In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30. 

Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.