A medley of French, Saudi melodies and visual art

Bahraini DJ Na Der, Saudi calligraphy artist Faisal Altayeb, French artist JA Dupont Castro and Syrian oud player Wasem. (Supplied)
1 / 6
Bahraini DJ Na Der, Saudi calligraphy artist Faisal Altayeb, French artist JA Dupont Castro and Syrian oud player Wasem. (Supplied)
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
2 / 6
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
French artist, JA Dupont Castro. (Supplied)
3 / 6
French artist, JA Dupont Castro. (Supplied)
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
4 / 6
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
5 / 6
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
6 / 6
Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

A medley of French, Saudi melodies and visual art

A medley of French, Saudi melodies and visual art
  • Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite partners with SASCA for vibrant live performances

DAMMAM: On a cool Friday evening, Dammam’s Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts hosted a groundbreaking collaboration with the Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite and the French Embassy.

The eclectic two-hour show featured celebrated French artist JA Dupont Castro, Saudi calligrapher Faisal Al-Tayeb, Bahraini DJ and musician Na Der, and Syrian oud player Wasem.

Brought together “to build cultural bridges and explore the dynamics of collaboration,” the unlikely group of artists delivered an enriching experience for all to see and hear.

The result combined tangible art — such as paint smeared on a large black sheet — with digital and light projections illuminated and woven into the same work.

The sounds of live music from both sides further added to the allure and ambiance of the space and helped the hands of the visual artists move to the beats. The outcome was an improvised yet cohesive masterpiece.

The local community was invited to witness the interaction on stage at SASCA’s newly unveiled location. The event blended sights and sounds from the East and West with cutting-edge innovation, offering a one-night-only live performance that merged calligraphy, music and what was referred to as “paint-mapping.”

Castro, renowned for his live paint-mapping — a method combining projection technology and live artistic improvization — shared his excitement with Arab News about the performance. He was also ecstatic about his first visit to the Kingdom and the creation of completely curated works — all live.

“I developed a form of art that thrives on collaboration, where I work with painters and musicians live. It’s always exciting because I come to discover how local artists work — their processes, their world. My world meets theirs and we try to create something unique together.

“Improvization is at the heart of this. The energy of the audience shapes our performance. The audience, they’re witnessing something that is going to happen once, not twice. You know, it’s a one-time creation that begins, ends, and we don’t do it again,” he told us.

Al-Tayeb, who lives in the Eastern Province, brought his distinctive Arabic calligraphy style to the mix. He used real paint to write words in an abstract form, which Castro layered overtop with light and digital color. For Al-Tayeb, the project was not just about showcasing his skills but also expanding his artistic vision.

“For now, I’m a calligrapher, but I’m exploring other kinds of art. This collaboration with Jack (Castro) is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow,” he told Arab News.

“We’ve been working together to understand each other’s processes — blending Saudi desert hues with Jack’s digital and light-based techniques. Art doesn’t require a language; it’s about communicating through colors, forms and sound. This project is my first time working with music alongside visuals, and it’s truly fascinating.”

Al-Tayeb also reflected on Saudi Arabia’s evolving art scene: “The Kingdom has made tremendous progress in the arts, thanks to government support and initiatives by the Ministry of Culture.

“Saudi Arabia is becoming a hub for global collaboration, providing artists like me the opportunity to share our culture with the world.”

Syrian oud player and Saudi resident Wasem added depth and warmth to the space with his soulful compositions, inspired by the themes extracted from the artworks. He explained his distinctive approach to Arab News.

“I translate paintings and sculptures into music. It’s not just about improvization — it’s about understanding the artist’s concept and expressing it through melodies,” he said. “In Saudi Arabia, much of our work is influenced by local heritage. We incorporate eastern rhythms and quarter tones to give our compositions authenticity while merging them with global musical scales. This collaboration today is a bridge between East and West, creating a blend that honors both traditions.”

Wasem emphasized the humanistic essence of such collaborations.

“This kind of fusion serves global heritage and promotes universal traditions. It’s about connecting deeply with the stories and movements we experience and translating them through strings,” he said.

Bahraini DJ Na Der, who provided the evening’s dynamic soundtrack, described the event to Arab News as a metaphorical bridge.

“It only took me an hour to cross from Bahrain to Saudi today, but the more beautiful bridge is the cultural one we are building here tonight. This collaboration — blending music, painting, and light mapping — is unlike anything seen in the Gulf before — I’ve never seen it.

“We’ve synchronized well (the artists), and I believe tonight’s show will be unforgettable,” he told Arab News ahead of the performance.

The event marked another milestone in SASCA’s efforts to foster cultural exchange. Yousef Al-Harbi, director of SASCA’s Dammam branch, shared the significance of such initiatives with Arab News.

“This collaboration with the French Cultural Center is not our first. Over the years, we’ve partnered with French, British and American cultural organizations to host renowned artists and introduce new artistic concepts,” he said. “Such events broaden artistic horizons and encourage exchanges between local and international artists, enriching the community. They also help strengthen the cultural fabric of Saudi Arabia, by combining visual and auditory arts to create a holistic experience for us all to enjoy.”

Held inside SASCA’s state-of-the-art venue, the live performance captivated a diverse audience. The interplay of traditional Saudi calligraphy, French projection art and customized music coming from both sides offered a fusion of culture and innovation that reverberated within the space long after the improvised art was completed.

As Castro and Al-Tayeb’s work illuminated the real and metaphoric canvas, Wasem’s sultry oud and Na Der’s electronic beats created a rhythm that resonated with the crowd. The event was attended by mostly French and Saudi residents and its success was a testament to the interest within the local community who came together to witness an experimental live show.

The French artist will continue his journey across Saudi Arabia, performing a few other exclusive one-night shows in other cities, each with local artists from those area, further enriching the Kingdom’s vibrant cultural tapestry for both the performers and the audience.


Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria
Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

RIYADH: An expanded ministerial meeting on Syria is hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday in the capital Riyadh as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.


KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen
Updated 12 January 2025
Follow

KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

RYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues with its humanitarian activities in Syria and Yemen with the distribution of food supplies, health kits and prosthetic services.

In the town of Beit Yashout, Jabla District of Syria’s Latakia Governorate, 499 families each received boxes containing a bag of flour as well as personal care kits on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

In Jindires of Aleppo Governorate, KSrelief distributed 1,476 food boxes and 1,476 health kits while in Talbiseh of Homs Governorate the aid agency on Thursday handed out to 86 families food parcels, each containing a 10-kilogram bag of flour, along with winter kits and personal care kits on Thursday.

This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s continuous humanitarian efforts, through KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people during various crises and hardships, SPA reported.

Meanwhile in Yemen, the Project for Operating Artificial Limbs and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz provided medical services to 434 beneficiaries who lost their limbs in December last year.

The center, being supported by KSrelief, delivered 1,613 services including the delivery, measurement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy and specialized consultations.


UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh
Updated 11 January 2025
Follow

UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh
  • Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.

New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.

He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.


Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace
Updated 11 January 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace
  • The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen attempting to storm the palace

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attack on the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad, which left 19 people dead, including a soldier guarding the complex, and injured others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Chad’s security and stability, while rejecting any actions that threaten the country’s peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its statement, the Ministry extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the government and people of Chad. The Kingdom also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the assault.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen reportedly linked to Boko Haram attempting to storm the presidential palace, prompting a fierce battle.

The Chadian government confirmed that 18 attackers from a 24-member commando unit were killed in the fighting, alongside one security personnel. Tanks were deployed to secure the area.


GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Updated 11 January 2025
Follow

GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia
  • Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi recently received New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles Kingston at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties, the General Secretariat wrote in a report.

During the meeting, they also discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, notably the progress of negotiations for the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and updates on the joint action plan between the two sides. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues.​