Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District

Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District
Wael Shawky’s ‘The Gulf Project Camp,’ Carved wood, 2019, Oil on carved wood. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 26 March 2025
Follow

Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District

Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District

RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh’s inaugural edition is set to take place from April 6-13 under the theme “At The Edge.” The event will feature works from more than 45 galleries, private and institutional collections, and a public program of talks — here is your guide to getting the best out of Art Week Riyadh. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@visualarts_moc)

Flagship exhibition: ‘At The Edge’

First up, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the event’s flagship exhibition which is curated around three thematic threads — “Everyday Life,” “Landscapes,” and “Motifs.”




Bashaer Hawsawi’s ‘Warm Space 1,’ 2018, Red Broom with African Cloth. (Courtesy of Hafez Gallery and the artist)

The exhibition features contributions from prominent galleries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, including A. Gorgi Gallery (Tunisia), Ahlam Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Albareh Art Gallery (Bahrain), Al Markhiya Gallery (Qatar), L’Art Pur Gallery (Saudi Arabia), AV Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Ayyam Gallery (UAE, UK), Carbon 12 (UAE), Efie Gallery (UAE), Experimenter (India), Galerie Krinzinger (Austria), Gallery Misr (Egypt), Galerie La La Lande (France), Galleria Continua (Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Italy, UAE), Green Art Gallery (UAE), Hewar Art Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Hunna Art (Kuwait), Lawrie Shabibi (UAE), Layan Culture (Saudi Arabia), Le LAB (Egypt), Leila Heller Gallery (UAE, USA), Lisson Gallery (China, UK, USA), Mennour (France, UK), Nature Morte (India), Perrotin (China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, USA), Sabrina Amrani (Spain), Selma Feriani (Tunisia), The Pill® (France, Turkey), The Third Line (UAE), Tabari Artspace (UAE) and Wadi Finan Art Gallery (Jordan). 

Al Mousa Center in central Riyadh

Up next, visitors should head over to the Al Mousa Center in central Riyadh where more than 15 galleries will present both solo and group exhibitions specially conceived for Art Week Riyadh.

Once a bustling commercial complex, the center is now a cultural destination that houses around 20 art galleries. Galleries participating in Art Week Riyadh include Abdullah Hammas Studio, Abstract Art Gallery, Ahlam Gallery, Alajilan Gallery, Alestudio, AMA Art Venue, Art Arif Gallery, Art Connection, AV Gallery, China Saudi Cultural Art Association, ERRM Art Gallery, Frame Art Gallery, Kadi Art Gallery, Kenz Gallery, Mahd Alfnon Gallery, Marsami Art Gallery, Ola Art Gallery, Takeib For Arts, Tequin Art Gallery, WHJ ALLON and Wrd Art Gallery.

Invited exhibitions

JAX District will also host three exhibitions by invited collections, offering a rare insight into Saudi Arabia’s evolving cultural identity. Presented under the title “Collections in Dialogue,” these exhibitions emphasize the role of patronage and collecting in shaping and preserving visual culture.

The section includes a curated presentation of artworks from the collection of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). Featuring works by artists such as Do Ho Suh, Maha Malluh, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mohammad Alfaraj, Hazem Harb, Gregory Mahoney, Moath Alofi, and Sultan bin Fahad, the exhibition highlights the interplay between material memory, transformation, and the landscapes that shape identity.




Neïl Beloufa’s ‘Double Standard,’ canyon, 2024, MDF and rubbio varnish. Neil Beloufa, Adagp, Paris, 2025, Photo. Archives Mennour. (Courtesy the artist and Mennour, Paris)

Meanwhile, Art Jameel will present a selection of eight single-channel artworks from its collection that highlight the diverse and evolving landscape of experimental film and video art practices in the region. This presentation brings together video works by artists from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, largely made in the 2010s, that reflect on a decade marked by profound transformations. Many of the featured works are early and foundational works by major artists such as Ahaad Alamoudi, Hiwa K, Bouchra Khalili, Basim Magdy, Ahmed Mater, and others. 

Also, “Abstract Horizons: Three Generations of Saudi Art” by the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) will go on show. Borrowing its title from a work by Saudi artist Mohammed Al-Saleem, the exhibition draws from SRMG’s collection to explore the progression of Saudi abstraction through the practices of key figures such as Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi and Taha Al-Sabban, who merged global influences with local traditions. Their legacy is reinterpreted by a new generation of creatives, including Raeda Ashour, Rashed AlShashai and Zaman Jassim.

Talks, workshops and studio tours

A series of talks and workshops will reflect on themes and questions facing the visual arts in Riyadh, more widely in Saudi Arabia, and around the world. Curated by Shumon Basar and titled “How to Art World? Lessons in Value,” the program will run at JAX District.

A “Moving Image” program will highlight the medium’s capacity to explore complex personal, cultural and social narratives, and feature the work of Theaster Gates, Zineb Sedira, Hicham Berrada, Bani Abidi, Laurent Grasso, Afra Al Dhaheri, Mohamed Bourouissa, Sarah Brahim, Farideh Lashai, and Hashel Al-Lamki.

At JAX District, some of Saudi Arabia’s leading artists — including Ahmed Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait, and Muhannad Shono — will open the doors to their studios, while resident galleries Athr, Hafez and Lift will present a lineup of exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. 

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) will present the exhibitions titled “Art of the Kingdom” and “Adaptability Ceramics,” alongside a series of workshops and pop-ups.


Red Sea Film Foundation announces mentorship program with Spike Lee

Red Sea Film Foundation announces mentorship program with Spike Lee
Updated 22 April 2025
Follow

Red Sea Film Foundation announces mentorship program with Spike Lee

Red Sea Film Foundation announces mentorship program with Spike Lee

DUBAI: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee – known for films like “Malcolm X” and “BlacKkKlansman” – is teaming up with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Foundation to launch the brand new Director’s Program.

The initiative will bring together 15 selected filmmakers for a “one-of-a-kind, intimate and inspiring mentoring experience” with Lee, according to an Instagram post from the foundation.

Taking place from April 30 to May 3, the program offers emerging directors from the Middle East and Asia a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most influential voices in cinema.

Applications are open until April 24.


Simone Biles wins Laureus award in Saudi design

Simone Biles wins Laureus award in Saudi design
Updated 22 April 2025
Follow

Simone Biles wins Laureus award in Saudi design

Simone Biles wins Laureus award in Saudi design
  • Saudi Arabia’s Eman Al-Ajlan designed Biles’ dress
  • US gymnast won 3 gold, 1 silver at Paris Olympics

DUBAI: US gymnast Simone Biles took home the Sportswoman of the Year award at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards this week, wearing a black gown by Saudi Arabia designer Eman Al-Ajlan.

The athlete opted for a strapless dress with a structured corset bodice featuring nude and black embroidered detailing. It included a voluminous peplum-style layer at the waist and a floor-length, sheer black skirt.

Simone Biles opted for a strapless dress with a structured corset bodice. (Getty Images)

She paired the look with simple diamond accessories and a black Tyler Ellis bag.

The American gymnast won three gold and a silver at the Paris Olympics.

Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis was named Sportsman of the Year. He had won a second Olympic gold medal and twice raised his own world record.

Al-Ajlan shared a photo on Instagram of Biles wearing her design, writing: “Congratulations @simonebiles on winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.”

This is not the first time Al-Ajlan’s designs have appeared on major red carpets.

Earlier this year, at the 96th Academy Awards, US social media personality Kristy Sarah wore a gown by Al-Ajlan.

The dress was a strapless, form-fitting gown in a soft nude tone. It featured a structured, ruched bodice that extended into a mermaid-style silhouette.

The skirt and train were embellished with three-dimensional floral appliques in shades of lavender and lilac.

In 2023, she dressed US actress, dancer, and social media star Tessa Brooks in an all-black ensemble for the MusiCares Persons of the Year event in Los Angeles.

The following year, British model and TV presenter Leomie Anderson wore a structured look by Al-Ajlan at the 2024 amfAR Gala in Cannes, featuring a mini dress layered with a net-like skirt.

Al-Ajlan, who launched her label in 2007, is based in Riyadh and specializes in couture, bridal and pret-a-porter designs.

She has dressed several regional celebrities for international events, including Saudi Arabia actresses Mila Alzahrani and Dae Al-Hilali at the 2019 Venice Film Festival.

In 2024, Riyadh-based TV host Ajwa Aljoudi wore a mustard gown by the designer to the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in Hollywood.


Japan’s Kaneko Masakazu explores memory, myth and nature in intimate Saudi Film Festival talk

Japan’s Kaneko Masakazu explores memory, myth and nature in intimate Saudi Film Festival talk
Updated 22 April 2025
Follow

Japan’s Kaneko Masakazu explores memory, myth and nature in intimate Saudi Film Festival talk

Japan’s Kaneko Masakazu explores memory, myth and nature in intimate Saudi Film Festival talk

DHAHRAN: Japanese filmmaker Kaneko Masakazu — known for his cinematic exploration of nature, memory, and myth — captivated audiences at the 11th Saudi Film Festival (SFF) with an intimate and insightful conversation about the deep connections between culture and storytelling.

Masakazu was joined on stage by Abdulrahman Al-Qarzaee, a fluent Japanese speaker from Saudi Arabia who served as translator with cultural commentator Showg AlBarjas acting as moderator.

The conversation delved into how landscapes, folklore and cultural identity shape cinematic storytelling, facilitating a thoughtful exchange of ideas that spanned cultural boundaries.

During this session, Masakazu shared his approach to filmmaking, particularly in “River Returns” (2024), his third feature film. It was shown just days earlier at the SFF, which is set to wrap up on April 23.

The film, a stunning blend of fantasy and drama, takes place in a rural Japanese village and tells the story of a young boy’s perilous journey to a seemingly haunted body of water. There, he hopes to calm the grief-stricken spirit responsible for devastating floods that have plagued the village. The story is set during the 1958 typhoon, which serves as a backdrop to the boy’s journey.

Masakazu revealed how his work has always been centered on the relationship between humans and nature.

“My work deals with the relationship between nature and humans as its central theme. It tells these stories in a poetic, almost mythical style,” he said.

In “River Returns,” the boy’s journey to the mountain pool is not just a physical one, but a spiritual and emotional quest, too.

The film captures how natural disasters can be viewed as manifestations of spiritual unrest, a concept in Japanese folklore that seemed to resonate with Saudi audiences.

The film’s breathtaking cinematography beautifully contrasts the serene landscapes with the looming, furiously violent storm, underscoring the dynamic between the gentle and the destructive forces of nature.

“The meaning of the narrative is ultimately left to the viewer — whether they experience sadness, love or the echo of an ancient tale,” Masakazu shared. “In the end, it becomes a transmission of culture, a passing down of folklore, all leading back to a shared emotional core. At the same time, I’m interested in how people respond — how a non-Japanese audience might engage with it.”


Quirky abaya brands reveal the changing face of Saudi fashion

Quirky abaya brands reveal the changing face of Saudi fashion
Updated 22 April 2025
Follow

Quirky abaya brands reveal the changing face of Saudi fashion

Quirky abaya brands reveal the changing face of Saudi fashion
  • Designers repurpose traditional looks to highlight individuality
  • Saudi girls, women express themselves, while retaining modesty, tradition

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s streets are increasingly seeing women dressed in vibrant and daring colors, patterns and fabrics as abaya designers make more creative choices.

Once considered a garment to hide behind, abayas have become a form of artistic beauty that Saudi girls and women use to express themselves, while retaining modesty and tradition.

Today there is an influx of brands specializing in quirkier designs whose aim is to make women feel both comfortable and unique in their clothing choices.

Reem Al-Bayyat, founder of Mad Since 1982 (Instagram: madsince1982), told Arab News that “every piece tells a story; no two look the same.”

Mad Since 1982 weaves together different pieces of fabric printed with Al-Bayyat’s illustrations. As a collage artist, she never combines the same fabrics in the same way twice.

“It is a story, but also a risk and an adventure, whether things will work out or not … all my friends ask me how I dare to put the fabrics together in this way,” she said.

With a passion for ready-to-wear, Al-Bayyat’s goal is to make wearable, everyday pieces more beautiful and elegant.

“I want it to be close to the hearts of the people wearing it, I want them to feel special.

“That is how I was inspired to created Hadaweh.”

Hadaweh, Mad Since 1982’s recent modest wear creation, is an original clothing concept that can be worn in multiple ways for different occasions.

Al-Bayyat has been working for years with handmade block printing companies in India that use natural colors and fabrics, and occasionally imports fabrics with patterns she creates herself.

“My next step is having my own printing lab in my atelier,” she said.

Al-Bayyat, a former professional photographer who focused on fashion, draws inspiration from both local and international cultures.

“I have a lot of freedom when I’m working without any fear,” she said.

Another Saudi abaya brand exhibiting similar principles of individuality is Lamya’s Abayas (Instagram: lamya.abayas), founded by Lamya Al-Sarra.

Al-Sarra’s abayas are colorful and full of life, designed to reflect the personality and confidence of the women wearing them.

“I would describe Lamya’s Abayas as timeless, elegant, and effortlessly stylish. Each piece is designed to make a statement, while still feeling versatile and wearable,” she said.

“I love playing with bold colors, interesting cuts, and unexpected details that set each design apart.”

As a child, Al-Sarra spent her time sketching dresses and different looks in a notebook, and although that dream did not follow her through university, she found herself returning to her roots when the idea of starting her own abaya brand came to fruition.

Unimpressed with the designs available in stores, Al-Sarra decided to create her own.

“I kept designing pieces that felt true to me, and soon enough, people started stopping me to ask where my abayas were from. I’d tell them, ‘It’s mine. I designed it.’”

The hobby that she practiced for friends and family quickly became a full-fledged business.

Al-Sarra favors self-expression when choosing colors and designs, especially through vibrant summer tones.

The garments are meant to spark joy and represent individuality, helping people feel confident in their clothing.

“I believe your surroundings shouldn’t limit how you express yourself. Whether you’re wearing something bold, trendy, or completely unique, it should always reflect you,” she said.

Al-Sarra uses a variety of different fabrics for different looks and occasions — linen, for example, for light and breathable wear in summer, richer textures like velvet or tweed in winter, and taffeta and katan for more formal or structured looks.

Celebrating both family and sustainability, Moja Majka (Instagram: mojamajka) is a slow fashion abaya brand founded by a mother and daughter that is built on values of authenticity, as well as cultural and natural connection.

Sarah Basaad and her mother Sureyya Barli launched Moja Majka in 2012 to answer their need for more colorful garments that use organic and airy fabrics.

“It is an extension of our characters,” Basaad said.

Going for timeless rather than trendy, Moja Majka takes inspiration from both Turkish and Saudi cultures, since Barli is of Turkish descent.

The brand’s textiles are completely organic linens, cottons, and silks, some woven in Turkiye.

“We support local artisans and artisanal work,” Basaad said.

The brand is focused on bringing back long-forgotten artisanal work. “We collect antique handcrafted pieces and fabrics that are no longer able to be reproduced in our time, she said.

“Our kaftans are not a victim of trends, but a classic to pass onto your loved ones.”


Thousands rock at music shows in Jeddah after F1

Thousands rock at music shows in Jeddah after F1
Updated 22 April 2025
Follow

Thousands rock at music shows in Jeddah after F1

Thousands rock at music shows in Jeddah after F1
  • Jennifer Lopez, Usher lit up the stage on Saturday and Sunday
  • This is cultural tourism via entertainment, says MDLBEAST CEO

JEDDAH: The past two days were filled with high-speed thrills and electrifying musical performances as the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 took over the city.

The after-race concerts, held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, were headlined by global music icons Jennifer Lopez and Usher, who lit up the stage on Saturday and Sunday night.

The party began right after a thrilling qualifying race, when Lopez stepped on stage. Wearing a dazzling black skintight catsuit, the 55-year-old icon made a bold and unforgettable entrance for an adoring crowd.

From the opening beats of “Get Right” to the final fireworks of “On the Floor,” Lopez delivered a show packed with powerhouse vocals, explosive choreography, and pure star energy.

The Bronx-born singer, who has sold over 80 million records and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, treated fans to a string of hits including “Jenny from the Block,” “Ain’t It Funny,” “I’m Real,” and “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.”

“This is an incredible place with an incredible backdrop for F1,” Lopez told the crowd, glowing with excitement. “It feels good to be back out here. I love the energy here. I am feeling myself a little bit here.”

In an emotional moment, the singer told the crowd: “Love is feeling safe, love is secured, that’s what love is.”

JLo graced the stage in a series of stunning outfits, changing into a red suit, followed by a golden one, and finishing the show in pink.

The audience responded with roaring applause, with many in tears.

“JLo brought the energy, the heart, and the glam,” said Reem Al-Sharif, a 29-year-old from Jeddah. “When she talked about love, I really felt that. She’s not just a performer, she’s a storyteller.”

Ramadan Al-Haratani, CEO of MDLBEAST, said: “This is what cultural tourism through entertainment looks like. The music doesn’t just support the race weekend, it transforms it.”

The following night, Usher, the king of smooth R&B, delivered a thrilling performance that brought the Grand Prix to a stylish and electrifying close.

Dressed in an edgy all-black ensemble, Usher commanded the stage with his signature swagger.

The Grammy-winning artist took fans on a journey through two decades of hits, from the crowd-hyping “Yeah!” to slow jams including “Nice & Slow,” “U Got It Bad,” and “My Boo.”

His charisma, vocals, and iconic dance moves had fans on their feet all night.

“This was my first time seeing Usher live, and it was worth every second,” said Talal Saleh, another concertgoer. “His connection with the crowd, the performance, everything was perfect. He even brought some nostalgic 2000s magic to Jeddah.”

Lina Al-Mansour, who attended both concerts, said: “The entire experience felt like a music festival and a Formula 1 race rolled into one. It was world-class entertainment right here in Jeddah.

“I never imagined seeing JLo and Usher in my hometown.”

The concerts also featured supporting acts including Major Lazer and Peggy Gou, who kept the crowd hyped between the headliners.