Christian Dior retrospective exhibition coming to Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season offering

Update A popular Christian Dior exhibition is coming to Saudi Arabia as part of this year’s Riyadh Season festivities, it was announced on Thursday. (Supplied)
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A popular Christian Dior exhibition is coming to Saudi Arabia as part of this year’s Riyadh Season festivities, it was announced on Thursday. (Supplied)
Update A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
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A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
Update A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
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A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
Update A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
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A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
Update A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
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A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. (ANFR Photo/Arlette Khouri)
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Christian Dior retrospective exhibition coming to Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season offering

Christian Dior retrospective exhibition coming to Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season offering
  • “Christian Dior: Desginer of Dreams,” which has captivated audiences at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, will run from Nov. 21 to April 2

PARIS: A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town. 

The retrospective is a collaboration between the legendary fashion house and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, and will run from Nov. 21 to April 2 next year at the Saudi National Museum.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the legendary designer’s origins and rise in the fashion world, beginning at 30 Avenue Montaigne and exploring his admiration for gardens, the splendor of the natural world, and his fascination with the grandeur of Versailles and the Enlightenment period.

Attendees will have the opportunity to see a collection of his haute couture creations, spanning from his early designs to those crafted by his successors, with each piece illustrating the house’s artistic innovation.

Curator Florence Muller and set designer Nathalie Criniere have crafted a fresh narrative specifically for the Riyadh show, ensuring a unique experience for both Saudi and international audiences.

Arab News en francais was granted an exclusive preview of the exhibition, from elegant gowns to intricate accessories, each piece told a story that reflected the artistry and innovation at the heart of Dior.

The exhibition’s unveiling took place during a media briefing held at Dior’s Paris headquarters, attended by key figures including Charles Delapalme, Dior’s administrative director, Muller and Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

Delapalme highlighted the strategic significance of bringing the exhibition to Riyadh, following its resounding success at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. 

Muller expressed her passion and excitement in curating this reimagined showcase for a new audience, aiming to introduce the essence of Dior to Saudi residents.

In an exclusive statement to Arab News, Alalshikh conveyed confidence that Riyadh’s residents will warmly embrace the exhibition and emphasized that the showcase has been thoughtfully adapted to resonate with local sensibilities and capture the spirit of “Riyadh Season 2024.”

Alalshikh further revealed that the Riyadh exhibition will be enriched with exclusive, never-before-seen pieces, hinting at a distinctive local flair that will set this iteration of the exhibition apart.

While anticipation builds for the Riyadh exhibition’s debut, the Paris edition continues to captivate audiences at “Dior: La Galerie.”


KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general
Updated 27 September 2024
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KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

NEW YORK: The supervisor-general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the chief executive of the International Medical Corps met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah and Nancy Aossey discussed issues of mutual interest related to humanitarian affairs, along with ways to increase cooperation in providing relief and medical assistance worldwide.

Aossey commended KSrelief’s medical programs, which are helping improve health conditions in various countries.

Al-Rabiah also met with World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to discuss humanitarian projects in the healthcare sector.

Ghebreyesus commended medical initiatives carried out by KSrelief, highlighting the strategic partnership between their respective organizations.


Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Updated 27 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and its partners had convened a global alliance to push forward a two-state solution agenda to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday.

The agenda is based on the conviction that a permanent settlement can only come via the establishment of a Palestinian state, the top Saudi diplomat said.

“What we are trying to do is build a coalition aimed at implementing the two-state solution and that needs certain building blocks, including capacity building within the Palestinian authority,” Prince Farhan said.

He said the Kingdom and allies would organize meetings at the senior working level in Riyadh, Brussels, Cairo, Oslo, Amman, and Ankara as part of the plan.

“I fail to understand how the continuation of war can be the only option,” he said. “There must be other options, and therefore I will reiterate our call for a ceasefire and for diplomacy to prevail.”

The decades-long conflict has come to a boiling point after Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border and attacked Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, killing nearly 1,200 people.

Israeli retaliatory action has laid waste to much of Gaza and killed over 41,000 in the enclave.

The conflict now has spread more widely to Lebanon. Israel has been attacking the southern part of the country where the Iran-backed Hezbollah group is strongest.

World powers fear that the conflict could escalate further, especially if Iran gets involved.

A call to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah by the US and France and their allies has been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

Asked about the Israeli premier's response, the Saudi diplomat said: “I wish I could tell you. I was surprised.”

Prince Faisal said the ceasefire proposal had been worded carefully to take into account the interests of both Lebanon and Israel.

There has been ongoing efforts to bring about an end to hostilities in the region, but all have failed except a brief pause in November when a number of hostages were exchanged between the Israelis and Palestinians.

“We have seen since the start of the war a pattern, every time we are told we are close to a ceasefire in Gaza, it does not happen,” Prince Faisal said.

“Similarly, when we were with our partners working together on a very concrete call for a ceasefire in regard to Lebanon, our impression was that was acceptable, only to learn now that, no, it is not acceptable.”

He said that the group was attempting to set the groundwork for the solution. As for Saudi Arabia, the focus was on establishing the Palestinian state.

 

 


Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York
Updated 26 September 2024
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Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

NEW YORK: Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, the Saudi minister of economy and planning, met with Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s minister of arts, culture and creative economy, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York.

The meeting focused on exploring areas of cooperation and addressing topics of shared interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Saudi interior minister receives Jordanian counterpart

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
Updated 26 September 2024
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Saudi interior minister receives Jordanian counterpart

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
  • During the meeting, ways to enhance security cooperation between their ministries and topics of common interest were discussed

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz received his Jordanian counterpart Mazen Abdullah Hilal Al-Faraya in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, ways to enhance security cooperation between their ministries and topics of common interest were discussed. 

The two ministers also signed a cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Jordan that aims to combat illicit trafficking and smuggling of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors.


‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology

‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology
Updated 26 September 2024
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‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology

‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology
  • The event marks the 20th anniversary of German Archaeological Institute’s excavations in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: A new art exhibition inspired by early archaeological exploration in Saudi Arabia has opened in Riyadh.

The Goethe-Institut in Riyadh, in partnership with the German Embassy and the German Archaeological Institute, or DAI, in Berlin, recently opened “Echoes of Time,” an exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of DAI excavations in Saudi Arabia.

Curated by Salma Al-Khalidi, the exhibition displays work from Saudi artist Daniah Al-Saleh and German artist Susanne Kriemann.

“The Saudi art scene is fantastic,” Al-Saleh told Arab News. “It’s alive and expanding, with numerous opportunities for artists thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and the government.

“It’s an amazing time to be an artist, especially with the backing of the German Archaeological Institute and the German Embassy. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our work and collaborate with fellow artists.”

The opening reception was held on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. and was attended by Michael Kindsgrab, the German ambassador to Saudi Arabia, along with several members from the German Embassy and DAI.

Set against the archaeological landscapes of Tayma and AlUla, the exhibition encourages viewers to perceive the desert as a place where history and modernity intersect, emphasizing the significance of environmental stewardship in global discussions about history and ecology.

Al-Saleh’s artwork, “A Stone’s Palette,” utilizes carnelian beads from ancient sites like Rujum Sa’sa’ and Tell Saq, blending ancient materials with contemporary techniques to create mixed-media pieces.

“Initially, my proposal focused on the Nabatean queens, but the German archaeologists were more interested in the Bronze Age. In our discussions, I discovered that carnelian beads were consistently found at various sites. In Tayma, there’s a carnelian bead factory that dates back about 5,000 years, leading me to shift my focus to these beads,” Al-Saleh explained.

Susanne Kriemann’s work, “Datadust Skin on Sand,” contrasts ancient artifacts with modern waste found in Qurh and Tayma. Her photographic prints combine archaeological discoveries with microplastics, shedding light on the environmental impact of plastic pollution in desert landscapes and offering a nuanced perspective on contemporary ecological issues.

Kriemann described her process: “I began early one morning when it was still dark, taking photos of a mountain every 10 minutes, capturing a hidden watchtower. I selected about 12 images depicting the slowly rising sun mirrored in the tower’s colors. I used Datadust textile, which is employed in archaeological sites, to create layers in my work.”

The exhibition is running at the Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, 2024.