Highlights from the traveling ‘Art of the Kingdom’ exhibition 

Highlights from the traveling ‘Art of the Kingdom’ exhibition 
Sarah Brahim, Soft Machines Far Away Engines, 2021. (Courtesy: Canvas and Diriyah Biennale Foundation)
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Updated 10 January 2025
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Highlights from the traveling ‘Art of the Kingdom’ exhibition 

Highlights from the traveling ‘Art of the Kingdom’ exhibition 
  • The show, which is on display in Rio de Janeiro until Jan. 12, features work by 17 contemporary Saudi-based artists 

RIYADH: “Art of the Kingdom” is perhaps the most significant exhibition so far for Saudi contemporary artists. It has already been on show in Brazil’s capital city for three months, and will soon move to Riyadh, before heading to China.  

It features works by 17 Saudi, or Saudi-based, artists — Ayman Yossri Daydban, Ahmed Mater, Emy Kat (Mohamed Alkhatib), Ayman Zedani, Shadia Alem, Nasser Al-Salem, Manal AlDowayan, Lina Gazzaz, Muhannad Shono, Sarah Brahim, Daniah Alsaleh, Faisal Samra, Filwa Nazer, Moath Alofi, Ahaad Alamoudi, Sarah Abuabdallah, and Ghada Al-Hassan — and, as the press release states, “offers a unique opportunity to explore the ways in which Saudi contemporary art contributes to shaping new cultural narratives.” 

The press release also states: “Two main themes emerge from the exhibition … The first is the desert as a definition of space, infinity, and life; the second is the singularity of cultural tradition, and the evolution of a unique visual culture, shaped by diverse pasts and presents.” 

Here are just a few of the artworks that make up the exhibition, the theme of which is “Poetic Illuminations.” 

Nasser Al-Salem 

‘Arabi/Gharbi’ 

The Makkah-born artist’s work, according to the exhibition brochure, “challenges the traditional boundaries of Islamic calligraphy by re-contextualizing it through mixed media, minimalist approaches, and architectural methods.” This piece, the title of which translates to ‘Arab/Foreigner’ is made up of neon lighting that presents both words simultaneously: a single illuminated (or not illuminated) dot allows it to switch between the two — when lit, it says ‘Gharbi,’ when unlit it reads “Arabi” — thus highlighting the minor differences that help form our images or ourselves. It is used as both the first and last piece in the exhibition, because, according to curator Diana Wechsler, “it installs a border between the contemporary Saudi world and the cultural horizon of the public. The journey through the exhibition shows, piece by piece … different aspects of this fascinating culture in which past and present, traditions and changes are involved. Arriving at the end of this journey and finding again the twinkling neon of Nasser Al-Salem, I like to imagine that the public will see it differently; that the experience of the journey has been able to broaden their horizons.”  




Nasser Al-Salem's Arabi-Gharbi. (Supplied)

Ahmed Mater 

‘X-Ray Illumination Diptych 1’ 

Mater is one of the most internationally famous Saudi contemporary artists — last summer he was the subject of a mid-career retrospective at Christie’s in London. This work comes from his “Illuminations” series, which, according to the artist’s website, blends “the past, represented by traditional Islamic arts, with the present, through the innovations of modern medicine.”  

It continues: “Faith and science are brought together — two subjects that are often treated as essentially separate and full of tense contradictions.” It is perhaps no surprise that the work of Mater — a doctor and an artist — should tackle these contradictions. 

In a brief essay about the series, Linda Komaroff, of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, writes: “What could be more intimate than literally to see inside another individual? This is most eloquently expressed in (Mater’s) great diptychs in which a traditional type of richly illuminated double page composition frames two X-rays set face to face; the skeletal images suggest some elemental form of humanity, stripped of the skin, hair, eyes and clothes that differentiate as well as separate us.” 




Ahmed Mater's Illumination-Diptych-I. (Supplied)

Sarah Brahim 

‘Soft Machines/Far Away Engines’ 

This work by visual and performance artist Sarah Brahim was originally commissioned for the first Diriyah Contemporary Biennale in 2021. The screens show individuals moving and embracing. Small gestures, Brahim told Arab News in July 2022, are “amplified through repetition and layering, conjuring up multifaceted images of beauty.” Her work in general, according to the show brochure, “is a response to and reflection on how we can heal both internally and externally, and how art and culture can serve as a vehicle for this movement.” 




Sarah Brahim, Soft Machines Far Away Engines, 2021. (Courtesy: Canvas and Diriyah Biennale Foundation)

Ayman Zedani 

‘The Return of the Old Ones’ 

“The construction and consumption of nature in the Gulf are central” to Zedani’s “exploration process,” the show brochure states. “His projects serve as platforms inviting the public to observe the symbiosis between human and non-human elements.” This experimental film offers “a poetic perspective from a non-human entity,” according to the artist’s website, “weaving factual information with a science fiction narrative to explore the story of oil through the life, death, and resurrection of ancient giant fungi known as Prototaxites,” remnants of which “have only been found in a few places in the world, including Saudi Arabia and the US.” The story, “reminds us that fossil fuels comes from ancient life forms that have been crushed down into raw black energy.” 




Ayman Zedani's The Return of the Old Ones. (Supplied)

Shadia Alem 

‘Negatives, no more’ 

Alem’s installation consists of thousands of photo negatives hand-stitched together and covering 20 years of her and her sister’s life from 1985-2005, as well as larger DVD images. It symbolizes the difficulty of being both an artist and a woman in the Kingdom at that time. “In the world’s conscience, we remained indifferently invisible and when accidentally subjected to the media’s light, we were outlined as passive, veiled/ negatives without prints,” Alem writes on her website. “Nonetheless, we were there all along, actively creating, struggling, weaving our lives … Nowadays, we reached a point in our history where all is changed … we rode the tide casting away the darkness overshadowing our identities.”  




Shadia Alem's No Negatives, No More. (Supplied)

 


British rapper Stormzy criticized for McDonald’s collaboration

British rapper Stormzy criticized for McDonald’s collaboration
Updated 42 sec ago
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British rapper Stormzy criticized for McDonald’s collaboration

British rapper Stormzy criticized for McDonald’s collaboration
  • Chain has faced global boycotts over perceived support for Israeli military with free meals
  • Stormzy launched new meal in UK after deleting pro-Palestine social media post

LONDON: British rapper Stormzy has come under fire for collaborating with McDonald’s, which has repeatedly been accused of supporting Israel since the start of the war in Gaza.

He launched the limited edition “Stormzy Meal” on Wednesday in the UK. In an advert, actors speaking in his voice order the new offering, consisting of nine chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ sauce, a Sprite drink and an Oreo McFlurry dessert.

McDonald’s has faced boycotts worldwide and been subjected to protests after it emerged that its Israel franchises gave thousands of free meals to members of the Israeli military and their relatives after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

At the time, CEO Chris Kempczinski condemned the boycotts as “disheartening and ill-founded,” saying they had harmed McDonald’s profits across the Middle East and elsewhere.

Franchise owners in Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan issued statements distancing themselves from the decision to hand out the free meals.

Stormzy previously published then deleted an Instagram post in support of the Palestinian cause.

He initially posted: “1. Free Palestine. 2. In the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will always be on the side of the oppressed. Unequivocally. As I always have been.”

Fans responded to his McDonald’s collaboration critically, with one posting on social media that Stormzy is a “sellout,” and another asking: “Why delete your pro-Palestine posts?!”

McDonald’s said in 2023 that it was not responsible for the actions or promotions of individual franchises worldwide.

Kempczinski posted on LinkedIn in January 2024: “In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonald’s is proudly represented by local owner-operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens.”

He added: “Our hearts remain with the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone.”


Saudi fashion label KML joins LVMH Prize shortlist

Saudi fashion label KML joins LVMH Prize shortlist
Updated 14 February 2025
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Saudi fashion label KML joins LVMH Prize shortlist

Saudi fashion label KML joins LVMH Prize shortlist

DUBAI: Launched in 2013, The LVMH Prize has unveiled its semi-finalists for 2025, with creatives from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Egypt making the cut.

Saudi menswear brand KML, by co-founders Ahmed and Razan Hassan, was named in the shortlist. The brand is known for its sharp tailoring and minimalist designs and was recently flaunted by US celebrity stylist Law Roach when he attended the “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” showcase in Riyadh.

Renaissance Renaissance, led by Beirut-based Cynthia Merhej,  is a returning contender from 2021 while Egyptian designer Yasmin Mansour’s eponymous brand earned her a spot on the semi-finalist list, as well as a 2024 Fashion Trust Arabia Prize.

The full list of semi-finalists includes Alainpaul by Alain Paul (France), All-in by Benjamin Barron (US), Bror August Vestbø (Norway), Boyedoe by David Boye-Doe Kusi (Ghana), Francesco Murano (Italy), Josh Tafoya (US), Meruert Tolegen by Meruert Planul-Tolegen (US), MFPEN by Sigurd Bank (Denmark), Nicklas Skovgaard (Denmark), Penultimate by Xiang Gao (China), Pillings by Ryota Murakami (Japan), Sinéad O’Dwyer (Ireland), Steve O Smith (United Kingdom), Tolu Coker (UK), Torisheju by Torishéju Dumi (UK), Young N Sang by Sang Lim Lee and Youngshin Hong (South Korea), and Zomer by Danial Aitouganov (The Netherlands) and Soshiotsuki by Soshi Otsuki (Japan).

The designers will present their latest collections on March 5 and 6 during Paris Fashion Week.

The LVMH Prize is open to international designers, aged 18 to 40, who have created at least two collections.

The winner of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers receives a $314,000 endowment and  a mentorship by LVMH. Meanwhile, the winner of the Karl Lagerfeld Prize receives a $157,000 prize and a one-year LVMH mentorship.

The jury includes designer Phoebe Philo and Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams, Loewe designer Jonathan Anderson, Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, Louis Vuitton womenswear creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, designer Marc Jacobs and Dior CEO Delphine Arnault, among others.


Inside the AlMuqtani Gallery at the Diriyah Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah

Inside the AlMuqtani Gallery at the Diriyah Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
Updated 14 February 2025
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Inside the AlMuqtani Gallery at the Diriyah Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah

Inside the AlMuqtani Gallery at the Diriyah Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
  • The gallery showcases works from the collections of Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani and Saudi collector Rifaat Sheikh El-Ard 

RIYADH: The second edition of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's Islamic Arts Biennale is themed “And All That Is In Between.” The title draws from the Qur’anic verse “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between” and, of the biennale’s seven sections, the one that arguably best represents this connection between the earthly and spiritual realms is AlMuqtani (which means homage in Arabic).  

Here, curator Amin Jaffer showcases the connection of the material world to the spiritual realm through rare pieces from two notable collections: those of Qatari royal Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani and Saudi collector Rifaat Sheikh El-Ard, owner of the Furusiyya Collection. 

Curator Amin Jaffer. (Supplied)

The Al-Thani Collection, of which Jaffer is also the senior curator, reflects the varied tastes of its founder, who began collecting works of art at the age of 18. Today, it includes more than 5,000 objects spanning multiple civilizations and geographies and is known for its superb collection of precious materials and objects. Its breadth and vision reflect Sheikh Hamad's early exposure to museums such as the Louvre in Paris, which he visited with his mother as a young boy.  

Art from the Islamic world, however, holds particular importance for Sheikh Hamad, reflecting his own culture and upbringing as well as his ties and inspiration drawn from his friendships with Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, founder of Dar Al-Athar al-Islamiyyah in Kuwait, and Sheikh Saoud bin Mohamed Al-Thani, who developed the collection of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Jaffer says that Sheikh’s Hamad’s acquisitions are guided by the aesthetic and cultural significance of each piece, regardless of its era. 

“The Al-Thani collection has more than 5,000 works art, from neolithic to contemporary,” Jaffer tells Arab News. “The Islamic collection is relatively small, and what we are showing is the highlights from that part of the collection, focusing on the variety, whether manuscripts, miniature painting works in metal, or glass jewelry.” 

The AlMuqtani section of the art fair. (Diriyah Biennale Foundation)

Selections from the collection have previously been exhibited at prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, and highlights are now housed in a dedicated space at l'Hôtel de la Marine, a historic monument in Paris. 

The second part of the gallery is dedicated to a selection of objects of chivalric culture, including arms and armor from the Islamic world from El-Ard’s collection, which he began in 1980. He decided to concentrate his acquisitions on the often overlooked area of weaponry from the Islamic world. The collection now contains more than 1,000 pieces, including rare examples of some of the most remarkable Islamic weapons ever crafted.   

 A jade jug from Central Asia, created sometime in the first half of the 16th century CE, part of the Al-Thani collection. (Supplied)

While the collection’s primary focus is on Islamic arms and armor, it has now expanded to include exceptional pieces of metalwork and other materials, many of which have never been publicly shown until now. 

Both collections comprise objects ranging from the Umayyad to Ottoman periods exuding breathtaking beauty and meticulously rendered craftsmanship.  

“AlMuqtani is very much about beauty,” says Jaffer. “The material or the tangible comes across. Unlike the other galleries, which have very strong stories, or have objects grouped to tell a very particular message, that is not the case here. It’s about the individual works of art and the taste and vision of the collectors. When people ask me what unites these objects, I would say the unifying factor is the collectors. 

“Both men are deeply, deeply involved in every aspect of the collection,” he continues. “But the most important point is acquisition. These pieces reflect, above all, the taste and the sensibilities of these two men. Through the curation of this gallery, we wanted visitors to become lost in the experience of the aesthetics of each object.” 


Review: Experience luxury living at Shebara on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia

Review: Experience luxury living at Shebara on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Updated 14 February 2025
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Review: Experience luxury living at Shebara on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia

Review: Experience luxury living at Shebara on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
  • Can the Kingdom’s latest beach resort live up to its eye-watering price tag? 

RED SEA: Overwater villa resorts continue to attract holiday goers around the world, but the Kingdom’s latest beach resort, Shebara, on the Red Sea, is breaking the mold with its futuristic designs. 

It’s rare that a resort’s architecture is seen as its biggest draw, but that is exactly what Killa Design, the studio behind Dubai’s iconic Museum of the Future, has managed to achieve, with its silver stainless-steel pods that dot the ocean in a necklace-like curve 25 kilometers off Saudi Arabia’s coastline. 

The silver stainless-steel pods dot the ocean in a necklace-like curve 25 kilometers off Saudi Arabia’s coastline. (Supplied)

Most visitors will arrive from elsewhere in the Kingdom via the Red Sea International Airport. Currently an efficient two-hall operation — until developers build a larger airport set to welcome international flights — beach-ready tourists arrive at Shebara via a 30-40-minute boat ride or a 30-minute seaplane flight that departs from nearby the airport, which currently serves domestic flights from Jeddah and Riyadh. 

Sunlight reflects off the resort’s 73 orb-like villas as guests approach, with the mirrored surface of each pod changing from sunlight to sunset. Both the Beach Villas and the Overwater Villas are available with one or two bedrooms. 

The resort, which is reportedly powered entirely by an on-site solar farm, has all the amenities you would expect for the SAR9,000 (just under $2,400) nightly price tag (for a one-bedroom Beach Villa), but, as we said, it’s the spacious living spaces themselves that are the highlight. The luxe spa, well-kitted out gym and water sport offerings are really just there to complement the rooms, both the exteriors and interiors of which are worthy of a Bond film. 

The interiors — by Studio Paolo Ferrari — are a masterclass in experiential living. (Supplied)

The interiors — by Studio Paolo Ferrari — are a masterclass in experiential living: steel curves, pops of burnt orange, and leather-clad curved walls may not be to everyone’s taste but it’s an experience — one that comes with a reflective button-operated bar that sits like a giant beetle near the living area. 

A fully equipped kitchenette is a plus point for guests keen to use the various Nespresso gadgets. Trek over to the bathroom — even the one-bed Overwater Villa is a roomy 188 sq. meters — and you’ll be treated to a free-standing bathtub and separate, curved shower room. 

From the lights to the air conditioning and patio doors, it’s all touch screen or button-controlled. Hitting a switch triggers a swoosh as the French doors open to reveal endless blue sea, with a small dipping pool and two outdoor seating areas on a marble-clad deck. For guests seeking a little extra privacy while taking a dip, it should be noted that the overwater villas’ deck pool and sea-skimming overwater hammock area are not shielded from view.  

While there are similar resorts the world over, the architecture and fresh take on beach living make Shebara well worth a visit. (Supplied)

Guests travelling in larger groups are able to reserve an entire islet — the Beachfront Crown Villas Ensemble option, which includes a three-bedroom villa and three one-bedroom villas. The Beachfront Royal Villas Ensemble on the separate Sheybarah Island, featuring a private dock, is also available. This option boasts a four-bedroom villa and three one-bedroom villas.  

Walk or catch a buggy through beautifully landscaped soft dunes to the spa and you’ll be treated to a menu of massage, facial and hammam options. The post-treatment relaxation area, with the usual sauna-and-steam room mod cons, is a little on the small side. 

Dining options include iki.roe, serving modern Japanese-Nikkei cuisine; Ariamare, led by restaurateur Chef Marco Garfagnini whose menu offers Mediterranean flavors; Lunara, an international brasserie; and Saria Pool Bar & Grill, a beachside venue specializing in Levantine cuisine. Solera, an adults-only pool bar, is the ideal spot to watch a spectacular sunset with a mocktail in hand. 

Solera, an adults-only pool bar, is the ideal spot to watch a spectacular sunset with a mocktail in hand. (Supplied)

All in all, it’s as luxurious as it gets. But it has to be said that sea resorts do have to contend with more than their fair share of wear and tear due to the weather conditions they face. It is perhaps unfair to expect the resort’s many glass and steel surfaces to be crystal clear and brilliant all the time, but if we were nitpicking — and at this price point, we surely must — more attention could be paid to the details in the public areas as it all feeds into the experience. That being said, the rooms themselves are pristine. 

While Mother Nature does battle with the resort’s maintenance staff on a daily basis, she’s also the source of one of Shebara’s most stunning offerings; the snorkeling at this resort is a must as the Red Sea is famous for its diverse marine life, clear blue-green waters and colorful coral. 

While there are similar resorts the world over, the architecture and fresh take on beach living make Shebara well worth a visit. 


Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands

Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands
Updated 14 February 2025
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Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands

Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands

Explore this curated list of romantic gifts for Valentine's Day, featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands.

Ofa Jewelry

A timeless classic reimagined, this handcrafted ring is made from 18k solid gold and adorned with pink sapphires (SR2,890).

Kooheji Jewelry

This sleek horoof pendant from Kooheji is a statement of personal style. Nestled in a heart of shimmering mother of pearl and crafted in lustrous 18K gold, the graceful pendant hangs from a shimmering chain, offering a contemporary and meaningful expression of individuality (SR1,692.60).

Charmaleena Jewelry

The ca-love-graphy love necklace in yellow gold, paved with diamonds, is a luxurious and meaningful piece that symbolizes love. This elegant necklace is ideal for making a statement of devotion (SR3,795).

Alwaleef Perfumes

Yaqoot is a romantic fragrance with a captivating scent that begins with bergamot and concludes with the allure of musk and vanilla, leaving a distinctive, lasting presence (SR249).

Mihyar Brand

Mihyar’s stylish mix of metal, leather, and beaded bracelets reflect the latest trends and are suitable for any occasion (SR99).

Zyros Brand

This elegant rosary is a charming addition for the man who values style. Made from Faturan stone, it features 35 meticulously crafted red stones, making it suitable for daily use (SR119).

Alrajul Almotameez Brand

Handcrafted with attention to detail, these BOZCADA cufflinks exemplify high elegance and are perfect for any formal occasion (SR249).