Art lovers in Riyadh had been treated to an exhibition featuring a collection of the prominent Brazilian painter of Brazilian Luiz Geraldo Dolino Nascimento in mid-September.
A joint effort of the Embassy of Brazil in Riyadh and L'Art Pur Gallery, the exhibition, which ran from Sept. 16-19, 2013, was part of activities meant to enhance the cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
Although Dolino has had his work displayed in several galleries around the world, it was the first time that his geometric constructions were shown in the Arabian Peninsula.
Dolino, along with Brazil’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Sergio Luiz Cannes and L'Art Pur Gallery owner and patron Princess Adwa bint Yazeed, were present during the opening ceremonies at the gallery, located at 352 Takhassussi Street in Olaya district.
For the duration of the exhibition, Dolino held a workshop with ASI students and met with some Saudi painters to exchange ideas and experiences.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1945, Dolino has staged seven joint exhibitions and 20 solo exhibitions in different countries. His work is characterized by geometric lines and colors and is inspired both by nature and by the first man who resided in Brazil.
The gallery and its pieces were considered a new experience for both local viewers and artists, as well a cultural event for artists who are unable to travel abroad to witness different arts or attend seminars. It has helped in creating a bridge of art and culture between Brazil and the city of Riyadh.
Brazil is best known for famous football stars and coffee. Yet little attention has been paid to the history of Brazilian art and culture or even its rich history. Brazil is the largest Latin American country on the continent, occupying more than half of the total area.
It has the highest population, most of whom speak Portuguese, and is characterized by its breathtaking natural beauty. Brazil is home to 1,000 rivers, the most famous of which is the Amazon. The country also has superb heights and valleys, the largest rainforest in the world and a tropical climate.
Brazil also has a rich culture and houses traditions from all over the world, as it is home to many migrants who have settled among the indigenous people.
Natives of Brazil are known for their annual festivals, love of music and celebrations. The most famous festival, the “Samba Festival,” is held annually in Rio de Janeiro.
Since the beginning of the 16th century, Brazil has witnessed different types of art as a result of European influence. The country has been a European colony for over 300 years.
The most famous art forms at that time were the “Alrakoko” and “Baroque." New art forms emerged during the 18th Century. In the early years of the 20th century, Brazilian artists began to reject European styles and refused to use European stereotypical images. Laser Segal and other Brazilian artists succeeded in taking Brazilian art onto the world stage through their work.
Dolino’s work creates a sense of emotional soundness, according to experts.
Saudi-Brazil ties highlighted in Riyadh art gallery
Saudi-Brazil ties highlighted in Riyadh art gallery
Architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign British Museum’s Western Range Galleries
DUBAI: Lebanese-helmed architecture firm Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture (LG-A) will redesign the British Museum’s Western Range galleries after winning the contract in a competition.
The Paris-based firm, founded by Beirut-born Ghotmeh, will transform the museum’s historic building the houses some of the world’s greatest antiquities.
The competition for the project ran for nine months and attracted more than 60 teams. Five were shortlisted, including Reem Koolhaas and David Chipperfield, and were invited to take part in a two-stage competition, from which LG-A emerged as the winner.
Gotmeh’s vision for the redesign for the galleries resonated with the judges due to its archaeological approach to the architectural design in what the museum is calling “one of the biggest cultural renovations undertaken anywhere in the world.”
“In Lina Ghotmeh we have an architect who combines a deep sensitivity to the history of our great collection while being a voice for the future,” said George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum and chair of the judging panel, in a statement. “We had many outstanding entries – and I thank the other practices for all their hard work – but I can say as chair of the judging panel, she was the standout winner.
“Her design ideas excited and enthused the trustees; when they become real buildings and galleries, we know they will excite and enthuse our millions of visitors,” added Osborne.
The judging panel comprised of experts in the field of architecture including Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, and Sarah Younger. Alongside Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, were representatives from the British Museum’s Board of Trustees — artist Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield and Alejandro Santo Domingo.
Ghotmeh, who grew up in Beirut during the 1980s amid the Lebanese civil war, is known for her sensitivity when designing projects. In 2023, she designed the Serpentine Pavilion London, making her the second female architect to do so after Zaha Hadid. She has also been commissioned to design a contemporary art museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert region in the northwestern part of the country. In 2005, she won the international competition for the design of the Estonian National Museum while working in London and collaborating with Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Foster & Partners.
“The beauty of this project lies in how my work process is both confirmed and enriched by a project like the British Museum,” Ghotmeh told Arab News, adding how winning the project gave her “a feeling of sharing, of collective joy, an expression of deep humanity that arises from the connections and emotions these moments evoke.”
Ghotmeh’s team also features Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2022, who is known for his art exploring cultural heritage, particularly in Lebanon and the wider Mediterranean, and geopolitics.
While prestigious, the redesign will be challenging. The Western Galleries, which comprise a third of the museum’s overall gallery space, total 15,650 square meters. The complex area includes the original 1850s buildings that were designed by Robert Smirke and later additions — all of which need to be renovated to meet present building standards. Many of the galleries contain important “heritage building fabric” the museum has said.
Ghotmeh also notes the feeling of responsibility in redesigning such an important museum, stating how she feels “the responsibility to bring our visions to life and continue this path of striving for quality and beauty.”
“Each project, for me, is a historical, material, and creative journey — like ‘archaeology of the future.’
“I am thrilled to design with a deep understanding of this museum — its history, the possibilities of what a 21st-century museum could be, the collection, its provenance, and the stories it should tell,” added Ghotmeh. “It’s about finding ways to engage with it, creating dialogue, and turning spaces into vessels. This is an opportunity to create extraordinary places that inspire a deep connection with the world.”
Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek
DUBAI: Executive chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek at Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort shares a clean eating recipe for iftar.
This detox curry is high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories due to the inclusion of beta-carotene-packed pumpkin, fiber-rich kohlrabi and cauliflower.
Billed as the Middle East’s first full immersion wellbeing resort, Zulal Wellness Resort’s offerings are based on the core tenets of traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine.
Detox curry
Ingredients:
30 gr Pumpkin
40 gr Kohlrabi
20 gr Purple Cauliflower
20 gr Cauliflower
10 gr Mushroom
1 gr Sweet Basil
40 gr Coconut Milk
60 ml Vegetable Stock
0.1 gr Salt
2 gr Coconut Sugar
Detox Curry Paste
250 ml Vegetable Stock
50 gr Red Chili
1 gr Kaffir Lime Leaf
75 gr Garlic
50 gr Galangal
Instructions:
Curry Paste
1. Peel all vegetables, cut thinly, and put in the blender.
2. Blend with vegetable stock until smooth in texture.
Curry
1. In a large saucepan, bring the coconut milk and curry paste to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the kohlrabi, cauliflower, pumpkin, and mushroom. Bring to a simmer until vegetables are tender.
3. Season with salt and coconut sugar.
4. Put sweet basil at the last before serving.
Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
- Disney+ releases 2-episode premiere March 5
- Actors highlight characters’ evolving dynamics
DUBAI: Marvel fans are all set for a return to Hell’s Kitchen as Disney+ gears up for the release of “Daredevil: Born Again,” a revival of the beloved “Daredevil” series that originally streamed on Netflix.
The new show brings back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who moonlights as the horned vigilante, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the formidable crime boss known as Kingpin.
Ahead of the show’s two-episode premiere on March 5, Cox and D’Onofrio shared insights into their characters’ evolving dynamics in a virtual press conference.
Cox assured fans that while Murdock remains fundamentally the same character, he faces new emotional and psychological challenges. “It’s hard to talk about without spoilers,” he said.
“Early on, Matt suffers a trauma that forces him to rethink and rediscover his identity in a way we haven’t seen before. He ends up going down a path that I’d describe as a Band-Aid that has to be ripped off slowly and painfully.”
The revival finds Murdock attempting to leave his vigilante past behind, only to be drawn back into a dangerous game as Fisk reemerges — not as a crime lord, but as a politician running for mayor of New York City.
Their conflicting paths set the stage for a fresh yet intense confrontation between the two.
D’Onofrio highlighted the rarity of direct face-offs between Daredevil and Kingpin, despite their deep-seated rivalry. “We’ve only been in five or six scenes together over the years,” he revealed.
“And that’s because when we do share a scene, it has to mean something — it’s always at the beginning of something, or the end, or sometimes both. It has to be intense.”
This time, the show takes a different approach, bringing the two adversaries together much earlier in the season. Cox explained that this shift creates a fresh dynamic.
“Bringing us together early on is something we haven’t done before,” he said. “It puts them in a position where they have to trust each other’s ability to stay true to who they say they are. That changes the game.”
D’Onofrio also offered a metaphorical take on the characters’ struggles. “We’re both broken men trying to live in the daylight,” he said. “It’s like vampires trying to walk in the sun — it’s a struggle.
“He’s got his thing, I’ve got my plan, and putting us together creates an unavoidable tension.”
Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid
DUBAI: London’s luxury department store Harrods announced on Friday its collaboration with celebrated Saudi calligrapher Mawadah Muhtasib for its Ramadan and Eid campaign.
This is the third year in a row that Harrods has collaborated with an Arab calligrapher.
Muhtasib is known for her Arabic calligraphy, using Muthana (mirror writing) and reverse script. Her work modernizes traditional calligraphy while keeping its original essence.
For this collaboration, Muhtasib created two bespoke artwork pieces that blend Islamic floral motifs with her distinctive style.
The first, featuring the message “Ramadan Kareem,” is set against a deep-blue backdrop, reflecting the spiritual ambience of Ramadan.
The second design, adorned with “Eid Mubarak,” embraces a vibrant pink palette, symbolizing the joy and festivity of Eid celebrations.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Harrods to mark Ramadan and Eid this year,” Muhtasib said. “Arabic calligraphy holds a profound power beyond artistic beauty — it is a true reflection of heritage, culture and design that transcends all generations.
“For this collection, it was important for me to capture the harmony between the elegance of Arabic script and the beauty of nature. The floral illustrations of the design showcase the versatility of Arabic calligraphy, affirming its place in the world of luxury and design,” she said.
Muhtasib’s creations will be showcased throughout Harrods’ Ramadan and Eid campaign, including their in-store displays, digital greetings, social content and in the iconic Knightsbridge food halls.
Additionally, Muhtasib’s artwork will feature on Harrods’ Eid gifting packaging.
Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi
DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez visited the King Fahd National Centre for Children’s Cancer this week to support young patients.
She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of the Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez.
During her visit, Rodriguez hugged and spoke with the children, and joined in their play with the dolls.
The visit is a part of the foundation’s efforts to create a supportive hospital environment through therapeutic play, which helps improve the emotional well-being of children with cancer.
