Saudi Shoura Council glimpses the future at Uruguay forum
The forum aims to further the use of future data and analysis in parliamentary decision making
It also seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between parliaments around the world
Updated 28 September 2023
SPA
RIYADH: A delegation from the Saudi Shoura Council took part in the Second World Summit of the Committees of the Future held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The delegation included council members Ibrahim Al-Nahas, Abdullah Al-Tawi and Latifa bint Mohammad Al-Abdulkarim.
Parliamentary representatives from around the world joined experts, and representatives of international organizations and civil society groups at the summit.
The forum aims to further the use of future data and analysis in parliamentary decision making, encouraging parliaments to develop capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
It also seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between parliaments around the world on possible future issues.
The summit discussed artificial intelligence, the challenges facing global governance, and sustainable development amid climate change and other global issues.
A series of public plenary sessions, seminars and workshops focused on AI and emerging technologies, and support for the implementation of the sustainable development goals.
The “Little Asia” zone will feature a wide range of events, activities and entertainment experiences from eight Asian countries
Jeddah Events Calendar recently won the 15th Makkah Excellence Award in the Social Excellence category
Updated 23 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: Amid the array of zones covered under Jeddah Events Calendar, the city is gearing up for the launch of the “Little Asia” Zone on Nov. 30.
It will be one of the prominent new entertainment zones in this year’s calendar and will run until March 3.
The “Little Asia” zone will feature a wide range of events, activities and entertainment experiences from eight Asian countries: Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and China.
Jeddah Events Calendar recently won the 15th Makkah Excellence Award in the Social Excellence category.
The award recognized the initiative for organizing events throughout the year under the theme “Together All Year,” hosting prominent international events, activities and entertainment shows. Calendar events have attracted more than 7 million visits from Jeddah’s residents, visitors and tourists.
On Nov. 30, the Jeddah Events Calendar is also set to host Comic-Con Arabia, a two-day extravaganza that will feature renowned stars from the comics and anime worlds, musical performances by bands, and an array of cosplay characters.
This event promises to be an immersive experience for enthusiasts and fans of pop culture.
Adding to the recent series of events, the Jeddah indoor zoo has attracted significant interest. It features a diverse collection of wild animals, including domestic breeds and rare species. It is open until Dec. 16.
The festival offers a diverse range of activities, including handicrafts, a traditional market, children’s activities
It is free to visitors and is open from 4:00 p.m. to midnight
Updated 21 min 56 sec ago
SPA
JEDDAH: The third King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (KSRNR) Festival started on Saturday. The five-day event has been organized by the wildlife reserve in collaboration with the Al-Jouf Municipality at the Prince Abdulilah Urban Center in Sakaka.
The festival offers a diverse range of activities, including handicrafts, a traditional market, children’s activities, and afforestation and agriculture events, as well as restaurants and cafes.
The festival, according to the organizers is “aligned with the primary goals of KSRNR regarding community welfare and national economic development” and “seeks to familiarize tourists and visitors with the reserve’s tourist and entertainment sites.”
It also aims to boost local community involvement in the reserve’s activities, fostering community well-being, and making a positive contribution to national economic development.
The festival is free to visitors and is open from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
KSRNR is the largest wildlife reserve in the Middle East, covering an area of over 130,000 square kilometers, and is home to a diverse range of wildlife including 350 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
It works to protect and encourage wildlife by conserving biodiversity and reintroducing endangered species back into their natural habitats.
Extending across four regions, Al-Jouf, Hail, Tabuk, and the Northern Borders, the reserve also contains some UNESCO-registered archaeological sites.
Art Jameel’s ‘At the Edge of Land’ explores connections between landscapes and trade
Curator describes the event as a journey that traces the trade route on which Jeddah sits
Updated 25 November 2023
Afshan Aziz
JEDDAH: “At the Edge of Land,” a group exhibition by Art Jameel, explores the intricate relationships between landscapes and trade.
Curated by Lucas Morin, the exhibition at Hayy Jameel brings together works from the Art Jameel Collection, as well as loans and new commissions by international artists, many of whom are showcasing their work in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
The exhibition challenges predetermined ideas of emptiness and development, shedding light on the regions and people on the margins of trade routes. It explores the unexpectedly interconnected geographies, resources and commodities that traverse between land and sea, telling stories of erosion and extraction.
Curated by Lucas Morin, the exhibition at Hayy Jameel brings together works from the Art Jameel Collection, as well as loans and new commissions by international artists, many of whom are showcasing their work in Saudi Arabia for the first time. (Supplied)
Morin, the curator, describes the exhibition as a journey that traces the trade route on which Jeddah sits, connecting East Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. “I think everyone can relate to landscapes, and I am inspired by the way artists help us find new meanings and connections that we don’t see at first,” he said.
The selection of artists and artworks featured in the exhibition reflects the artists’ experiences of crossing lands, canals and rivers. They document disappearing landscapes and give a voice to their communities, challenging the inevitability of loss.
The artworks depict houses clinging to eroded coastlines, sand extracted to create distant artificial islands, and seafarers stranded in the desert. They also explore ports, containers and the sounds of immense ships waiting to be dismantled, revealing the interconnectedness of economies and drawing parallels between the movement of goods and the movement of people.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Curated by Lucas Morin, the exhibition at Hayy Jameel brings together works from the Art Jameel Collection, as well as loans and new commissions by international artists.
• The exhibition challenges predetermined ideas of emptiness and development, shedding light on the regions and people on the margins of trade routes.
• It explores the unexpectedly interconnected geographies, resources and commodities that traverse between land and sea, telling stories of erosion and extraction.
Among the exhibited artists are Jananne Al-Ani, Iosu Aramburu, Au Sow Yee, Daniele Genadry, Ho Rui An, Ranjit Kandalgaonkar, Lala Rukh and Hira Nabi.
Morin emphasizes the importance of bringing together modern and contemporary artists from different artistic and cultural backgrounds, ensuring a dynamic and engaging exhibition.
Some of the artworks showcased in the exhibition have been created for this occasion.
“For instance, Filipino artist Joar Songcuya’s work, titled ‘Passage to Suez,’ consists of drawings based on his recollections as a marine engineer. Songcuya vividly remembers his time working on oil tankers and visiting Saudi ports on the Red Sea,” Morin said.
Daniele Genadry, whose work is included in the exhibition, explained her artistic process and the motivations behind her participation: “My work mainly reflects on how persistent and unstable conditions, particularly those present in postwar Lebanon, can generate a specific form of perception. The aim is to create a heightened and intense visual experience that speaks to our current global crises.”
Genadry added: “Participating at Hayy Jameel was a great opportunity to showcase my work within the context of the Jameel Art Collection. I believe that conscious and embodied vision can resist dominant modes of perception perpetuated by our screens and media, and it was an honor to be showing with such a group of wonderful artists and to work with Lucas again.”
“At the Edge of Land” invites visitors to discover new artistic practices and artists, and to be inspired to find meaning in the intricate relationships between landscapes and trade. The exhibition aims to prompt reflection on the interconnectedness of our world, both environmentally and economically.
It is open to the public and will run until April 13 next year. For more details, visit hayyjameel.org.
Riyadh Urban Runners were one of the leading partners and organizers on the day
Updated 25 November 2023
Lama Alhamawi
RIYADH: The Royal Danish Embassy in Riyadh hosted a family run on Friday to mark World Diabetes Day, in partnership with Riyadh Urban Runners, The Ministry of Health, King Saud University, and Novo Nordisk.
The event was hosted by King Saud University’s College of Medicine and welcomed participants of all ages.
Asbjorn Christensen, the Royal Danish Embassy’s deputy head of mission, said: “Together we are trying to defeat the challenges that diabetes is posing to a lot of people.”
Highlighting the importance of partnering with organizations in Saudi Arabia to support World Diabetes Day, which falls on Nov. 14, Christensen added: “For me, it’s great to be here and to be involved in the challenge.
“This is one of the positive things we can have as a country; we can have a bilateral relationship.
“Novo Nordisk has been here a long time and it’s a Danish company. They have been treating diabetes for over 100 years.”
Novo Nordisk was founded in 1923 with the aim of driving change to defeat diabetes.
Christensen, whose wife has been diabetic for 30 years, added: “A day like this is embracing the awareness of treatment.
“(Diabetes is) not just a chronic disease, it’s something that you live with every day. It’s something that you have to focus on every day.
“It’s in the interests of the embassy, of course, to show up and support the efforts that are taking place and also to support all the diabetics in Saudi.”
Riyadh Urban Runners were one of the leading partners and organizers on the day.
The group supported runners on the 5 km race, holding signs and cheering them on. Riyadh Urban Runners also led interactive activities for participants.
Mashael Almehaid, a vice president on the board committee of RUR, told Arab News that the club encouraged runners at all levels.
She added: “RUR started in 2016 as a female running group and then we grew bigger and bigger and now we have both genders, all levels, from complete beginners to marathon runners.
“We have about five weekly runs and one special run for ladies.”
A speech on the importance of diabetes awareness preceded the family day, which included a 1 km race for children, along with the 5 km event.
Participants could run, jog or walk, and all who crossed the finishing line received a medal.
Medical booths gave out information on diabetes, and an awards ceremony, along with interactive games and activities hosted by RUR, closed the event.
After the birth of my daughter, I discovered that I had a sense for art, such as the art of decoupage and recycling … I was looking for something aesthetically pleasing to the eye
Updated 24 November 2023
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: Saudi sculptor Sara Sadiq uses clay to create custom-made, vibrant works of art that are also functional.
Sadiq specializes in creating handmade mugs with three-dimensional figures of animals, mythological creatures and people.
For her new collection, Sadiq is gifting mugs to inspirational Saudi women. “I’m currently devoting this time to creating a collection dedicated to Saudi women,” she said.
Saqid specializes in creating handmade mugs with three-dimensional figures of animals and humans. (Supplied)
One of the first pieces in her “women’s empowerment” collection was given to Saudi painter Nouf Al-Jamea, who inspired Sadiq in her artistic journey.
“Art speaks and works to convey messages and feelings that a person may not be able to express (otherwise),” Sadiq said.
Motherhood opened new doors for Sadiq, allowing her to discover a passion and talent that she did not know she had: “After the birth of my daughter, I discovered that I had a sense for art, such as the art of decoupage and recycling … I was looking for something aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”
Saqid specializes in creating handmade mugs with three-dimensional figures of animals and humans. (Supplied)
Social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube introduced Sadiq to a range of tutorials — and inspiration.
“I was following the accounts of artists who used thermal clay and sculpture, and I was very amazed by their work, so I wondered to myself, ‘Why don’t I try something like this?’”
Sadiq visited the nearest stationary shop and bought refractory clay. “The result was beautiful. I saw people’s admiration … then I searched for sources that provided the best types of refractory clay since I knew how to use it and shape it and eventually start the project with it.”
One of the first pieces in her women's empowerment collection was given to Saudi painter Nouf Al-Jamea, who inspired Sadiq in her artistic journey. (Supplied)
She uses two types of refractory clay to sculpt accessories, statues and mugs, and then bakes them in an electric oven.
“There are designs that I took inspiration from others, but I tried to add my own touches … and some of them I created,” she said. “I also really liked the idea of animal designs, which I used to draw inspiration from pictures and drawings.
“I tried to adhere as much as possible to traditions in terms of sculpture, so that I do not deviate from the scope of our traditions and culture, and the model I present is acceptable in the environment in which we also live.”
Sadiq said that her next project will be a collection of designs that reflect Saudi culture and vision.
Her social media platforms continue to grow while she receives positive feedback from the local community.
“I am happy that (my) works have reached the Gulf countries, and my dream is to reach countries abroad,” she said.
Sadiq said that she has turned her dreams into reality by investing in her artistic energy. This was possible due to the “continuous encouragement from my relatives and their support, especially my dear sister, my first supporter, and also my children who are also the motivators that I am developing more in this field.”
Her advice to artists is to pay attention to their calling.
“In the end, I would like to advise everyone not to hesitate to invest in the creative and artistic energy within themselves,” she said. “I am a mother of two children and an employee, but I also give the (artistic) energy within me time and also try to develop it and leave a mark on society.”
To view Sadiq’s artwork, visit her Instagram @sara_prettyarts.
