Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia
The “Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft” exhibition stands out as a captivating exploration of creativity, resilience and innovation in the world of design. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 November 2024
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Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Exploring innovation at ‘Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft’ exhibition in Saudi Arabia
  • Step backstage to experience the creative processes of 10 renowned design studios, where failure fuels creativity

DHAHRAN: As a part of the annual Tanween conference at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, the “Behind the Curtains: Scenes of Craft” exhibition stands out as a captivating exploration of creativity, resilience and innovation in the world of design.

The exhibition, aligned with the Tanween 2024 theme “Fail Forward,” invites visitors to embrace the beauty of setbacks as vital stepping stones in the creative process.




The exhibition, aligned with the Tanween 2024 theme “Fail Forward,” invites visitors to embrace the beauty of setbacks as vital stepping stones in the creative process.
(Courtesy of Ithra Studios)

Curated and designed in collaboration with Isola Studio, the exhibition showcases the works of 10 internationally acclaimed studios specializing in crafts, circular design and material research, and is on until Nov. 6.

“The idea of staging the exhibition led us to the name ‘Behind the Curtains’ because we want to show what’s behind what you see, through a theater approach,” Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder of Isola Studio, told Arab News.

“We asked studios to display their latest projects, not just the final results, but also the process, including failures, trials, and broken pieces. This highlights that reaching successful design involves going through mistakes and challenges.”




Curated and designed in collaboration with Isola Studio, the exhibition showcases the works of 10 internationally acclaimed studios specializing in crafts, circular design and material research.
(Courtesy of Ithra Studios)

Each studio provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their artistic processes, sharing inspirations, prototypes, and materials that did not make the final cut. This transparency highlighted the essential nature of experimentation in design.

At the heart of the exhibition lies an interactive workshop area, where visitors can partake in hands-on activities including sketching, molding, and experimenting with various materials, allowing them to experience the creative process firsthand. 

This interactive component emphasizes that creativity is often a non-linear journey filled with exploration and discovery.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ithra | (@ithra)

 

The “Fail Forward” theme runs throughout the exhibition, encouraging visitors to see failures as essential learning experiences. By sharing their struggles and lessons, the design studios inspire visitors to embrace their own creative challenges. 

Cavallaro expressed his hopes for visitors, stating: “I want them to understand the importance of taking risks in life to achieve success.”


Spike Lee sheds light on filmmaking career at Red Sea festival

Spike Lee sheds light on filmmaking career at Red Sea festival
Updated 10 December 2024
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Spike Lee sheds light on filmmaking career at Red Sea festival

Spike Lee sheds light on filmmaking career at Red Sea festival
  • New movie starring Denzel Washington expected in 2025
  • Emphasizes being a ‘devotee’ of cinema to be successful

JEDDAH: On the sixth day of the Red Sea International Film Festival, cinema legend Spike Lee shared insights on storytelling, collaboration, and his enduring love for filmmaking.

Known for his groundbreaking works including “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” and “BlacKkKlansman,” the five-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker delved into his journey, inspiring aspiring creatives and cinephiles alike.

Lee reflected on his early challenges, emphasizing the importance of opportunity in the crowded industry. “From the very beginning, I wanted to give an opportunity for new talents,” he said.

“This is a very, very tough business. A lot of times, you can be very talented, but if you don’t get a break, you’re really stuck.”

Lee also spoke passionately about the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

“Filmmaking is not a solo act. It’s the collective coming together for one goal — to make films,” he said. “Some people want to be the hero and do it by themselves, but it doesn’t work like that.”

Teaching and creating films, Lee explained, requires dedication.

“Filmmaking is no joke. You have to be a devotee of cinema, like your life depends on it. You can’t cheat. If you’re not serious, you’re making it harder for yourself.”

Lee’s upcoming film is a reimagining of the Akira Kurosawa classic film “High and Low.” The film stars Denzel Washington and will be released in 2025 by A24 and Apple.

Whether directing narrative films or documentaries, Lee highlighted the universal importance of storytelling. “I don’t have to put on another hat. It’s telling the story — a different way to tell a story, but still telling a story,” he explained.

Music is an integral part of his creative process. “Music plays a very important part in my films. The composer’s sound, those sounds, is this element that is very important to how we use music,” he said.

The director has a long history of working with musicians and in addition to his films, TV series, and commercials, he has directed a number of music videos and shorts.

He has worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Prince, Public Enemy, Branford Marsalis, Bruce Hornsby, Miles Davis and Anita Baker.

Drawing from his 30 years in the film industry, Lee critiqued ineffective leadership on set. “Sometimes you see long days because the director doesn’t know what they’re doing. That’s when the crew turns against the director.”

The festival’s stellar lineup of speakers includes Brendan Fraser, Michael Mann, Jeremy Renner, and Benedict Cumberbatch.


Music Cities Awards lead convention as part of Riyadh Music Week

Music Cities Awards lead convention as part of Riyadh Music Week
Updated 10 December 2024
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Music Cities Awards lead convention as part of Riyadh Music Week

Music Cities Awards lead convention as part of Riyadh Music Week
  • A number of initiatives and foundations from across the globe took home wins for their work in creating transformations across communities through music
  • Brazil’s music scene had a successful night as it took home two awards

RIYADH: Riyadh Music Week festivities continue in the capital as the fifth annual Music Cities Awards were held in the Middle East for the first time on Dec. 8 at Mayadeen Village.

A number of initiatives and foundations from across the globe took home wins for their work in creating transformations across communities through music.

Hosted by Saudi actor Hakeem Jumuah, the night kicked off with opening remarks by CEO of the Music Commission Paul Pacifico and CEO of Sound Diplomacy Music Events and Education, Luke Jones.

Jones told Arab News: “The Music Cities awards is the world’s leading (platform), and I think recognition of people doing fantastic and important policy work in the development of Music City, strategies, night time economy, and everything else that is needed to make music, entertainment and culture work in an economically viable and sustainable way around the world.

“So in Riyadh, that’s exactly what we are trying to build. It’s a real privilege and a pleasure for us to host this important award ceremony as we build our city with these important tenets in mind.”

With over 300 applications from 19 countries across six continents, this year’s competition highlights the vital role that music plays in shaping the cultural, economic, and social fabric of cities.

To the nominees and applicants this year, he said: “Your innovative projects and unwavering commitment to using music for the greater good are an inspiration to us all.

“It enriches communities, fosters creativity, and reminds us of music’s profound ability to connect. We encourage all of you to continue applying for the awards. It’s not just a competition, it is a growing database of inspiration and celebration of what is possible when using becomes a tool for transformation.”

The selection process was led by a high level global jury of 10 experts who work at the forefront of music and city development, including Helen Glengarry, music industry lead of the City of Gold Coast, Australia; Khadija El-Bennaoui, head of performing arts at the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi; Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, GRAMMY Award-winning engineer, producer, composer, and owner of Royal Studios; and Nada Alhelabi, the general manager of MDLBEAST Foundation in Saudi Arabia.

Brazil’s music scene had a successful night as it took home two awards. The city of Salvador, which was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music due to its rich Afro-Brazilian cultural influences, won Best Global Music City, while The Brazilian Symphony Orchestra Foundation took the category for best initiative to support music education and career development.

Australian entities also took home big wins. Queensland Music Festival was named the Best Music Tourism Initiative for its flagship Queensland Music Trails, while Music Victoria, a prominent organization known for its advocacy, research, and professional development within the music industry, won Best Organization Or Individual Supporting Music In The City.

Best Initiative to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Music went to the Miami Music Project, Inc., while Central Florida Community Arts won Best Initiative Using Music to Improve Health and Wellbeing.

The French Bye Bye Plastic Foundation, a women-led grassroots nonprofit focused on eliminating single-use plastics in the music industry, won Best Initiative Using Music to Support Environmental Sustainability; The Best Initiative Using Music for Economic, Social or Community Development went to the Viña del Mar International Song Festival; and Best Night-Time Economy Initiative was won by Bristol Nights, a partnership project initiated by Bristol City Council to support the city’s nightlife and those working from 6 pm to 6 a.m.

Located in Toronto and Hamilton, Canada, Main Stage Rehearsal Studios won the title for Best Use of Music in Real Estate or City Planning, while the Best Digital Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities went to Opulous, which has developed products that transform how users engage with the music industry.

The award show started the two-day Music Cities Convention, held Dec. 9-10, including a number of panels and workshops dedicated to discussing what it takes to create a solid foundation for a thriving music industry.

The festivities were organized by Music Cities Events, which is part of sound diplomacy events and education.

“This event is a rare opportunity for policies to be put on stages, alongside events like Soundstorm festival and XP, to give policy its rightful focus as the underpinning of everything else that we need to happen to have creative careers and successful environments,” said Pacifico.


Ukrainian sci-fi film explores love and loneliness at RSIFF

Ukrainian sci-fi film explores love and loneliness at RSIFF
Updated 10 December 2024
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Ukrainian sci-fi film explores love and loneliness at RSIFF

Ukrainian sci-fi film explores love and loneliness at RSIFF

JEDDAH: Conceived more than a decade ago but written and shot during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Pavlo Ostrikov’s debut film, “U Are the Universe,” is a poignant look at love and loneliness seen through a sci-fi lens.

Screening as part of the Red Sea International Film Festival’s “Favorites” section, “U Are The Universe” is a dramedy that tells the story of space trucker Andriy. When his home planet explodes while he’s dumping radioactive waste on one of Jupiter’s moons, he becomes the last human alive.

With only a wise-cracking robot for company, Andriy believes he’s doomed to a life alone — until the voice of a Frenchwoman reaches him from a distant space station.

“It’s not like it was my goal, but somehow all my films turn out to be about loneliness and love,” said Ukrainian filmmaker Ostrikov in an interview with Arab News.

“Maybe love is an answer for loneliness. If you feel alone, you need to find somebody in this universe. So, it wasn’t my intentional approach. But, of course, it’s an important topic for me, and when I watched my films after finishing, I saw this really clearly, that it’s a really important theme and topic. I don’t know why, because I have family, I have friends, but this feeling, it’s so deep. And I saw many, many people suffer with loneliness, and it’s a real problem in our life.”

“U Are the Universe” came into being while Ostrikov was studying law at university. He decided to write and perform a play to raise his fellow students’ spirits, with the first iteration being 15 minutes of slapstick comedy.

Years later, when he decided to make his own feature film, the story came back to him. Armed with a bunch of astrophysics books and a love of sci-fi cinema, Ostrikov decided to tell a deeper story about the human condition.

“I guess you couldn’t make a sci-fi movie without mention of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ by Stanley Kubrick. It is (a) game-changing film, and it was made so good,” he said. “Even now, if you watch this film, you feel like it’s a journey to space. So that’s why we made some homage to Stanley Kubrick. Also, I like ‘Interstellar’ by Christopher Nolan, because I like his scientific approach, and also it’s not like a goofy sci-fi.”

The film was made with a mix of computer-generated imagery and practical effects.

“If (I) do another sci-fi movie, I will do more practical effects, because it’s more reliable. I guess with practical effects it’s not easy, but you see the film on the set, not in the studio after shooting.”


Review: RSIFF competition title ‘To Kill A Mongolian Horse’ is a moving, gripping tale

Review: RSIFF competition title ‘To Kill A Mongolian Horse’ is a moving, gripping tale
Updated 10 December 2024
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Review: RSIFF competition title ‘To Kill A Mongolian Horse’ is a moving, gripping tale

Review: RSIFF competition title ‘To Kill A Mongolian Horse’ is a moving, gripping tale

JEDDAH: Progress and modernism sometimes spell the end of an era and the traditional way of life. This is essayed brilliantly in director Xiaoxuan Jiang’s“To Kill A Mongolian Horse,” which had its MENA region premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah and is up for consideration for an award at the closing ceremony on Thursday.

Running in the “Red Sea: Competition” section against titles from across the world, the Mandarin and Mongolian language work unfolds against the barren landscape of Mongolia.

The moving 98-minute film tells the story of real-life Saina, a herdsman whose deep bond with his horse is captivating. Scouting for locations for her short movie, “Graveyard of Horses,” the director met Saina in Mongolia and he inspired her to create a fictionalised version of his life.

Apart from tending cattle, Saina also appears in a show about Mongolia's past. A daredevil life-threatening display of horsemanship and athletics endear him to the crowds, and he says in a poignant scene they are necessary for financially supporting his gambling father, son and ex-wife. 

Pressing concerns like climate change and drought compensate for average performances. But the storytelling is gripping and underlines the aching heart of Saina, who sees tradition and culture slipping away and a new world emerging. He is nervous but his horse offers solace and the kind of permanence that he craves.

The scenes between the two are movingly etched out through impressive framing captured by Tao Kio Qiu’s lens. Although the landscape is desolate, the bright colours and unique hues of the costumes worn by the actors are a joy to watch against the drab palette of their surroundings.  

There is a good chance this title will catch the eye of jury head Spike Lee as the final deliberations are made.


Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch take to the RSIFF red carpet ahead of emotional ‘We Live in Time’ screening

Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch take to the RSIFF red carpet ahead of emotional ‘We Live in Time’ screening
Updated 10 December 2024
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Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch take to the RSIFF red carpet ahead of emotional ‘We Live in Time’ screening

Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch take to the RSIFF red carpet ahead of emotional ‘We Live in Time’ screening

JEDDAH: English American actor Andrew Garfield graced the Red Sea International Film Festival red carpet in Jeddah on Monday night as his latest film, “We Live in Time,” held its MENA premiere as part of a gala screening.

Although not joined by his co-star Pugh, Garfield attended the screening alongside producers of the film, Adam Ackland and Benedict Cumberbatch.

 

 

At the screening, the producers and star Garfield briefly addressed the audience to introduce the romantic drama.

On Pugh and Garfield’s performances in the film, British star Cumberbatch said, “They’re already at the top of the game. They are our generation’s best,” before adding, “I’m jealous I’m not in the film.”

Andrew Garfield addressed the audience at the screening in Arabic. (Getty Images)

Garfield opened by greeting the audience in Arabic, saying “Assalamu alaikum (peace be upon you).”

He then thanked the festival for bringing the film to Saudi Arabia. “So grateful to be welcomed here like it is my second home,” added Garfield, who also attended the festival last year.

“We Live in Time” is a London-set romantic drama that follows an up-and-coming chef (Pugh) and a recent divorcée (Garfield) across a decade as they find their lives forever changed by a chance encounter.