Head to Saudi’s historical and spectacular AlUla for an otherworldly art experience
Ten years ago Raneem Farsi founded Raneem Farsi Art Advisory – now AR Art Advisory - with Aya Alireza. Together they serve as a multidisciplinary art consultancy bolstering the art scene in Saudi Arabia and its representation abroad. Curating shows together since 2013, their latest project Desert X AlUla marries art, culture and environment in the most unexpected and awe-inspiring way.
The exhibition is a cross-cultural dialogue between artists and the stunning surrounds. Fourteen large-scale site-specific works respond to ALUla’s unique environmental conditions, historical context and surrounding communities. Saudi curator Raneem tells us everything we need to know…
Many of the participating artists are informed by the multiple layers of history shaping the region and were invited for a visit that summarised the best brief possible for this exhibition; the landscape itself. Their work reflects on pertinent themes and concepts that explore wide horizons, challenging the traditional definition of art. Alongside the international and regional artists on view, this exhibition is a debut of what Saudi Artists have to offer, allowing the artworks to speak for themselves beyond the label of origin.
Working collaboratively alongside my co-curators Aya Alireza and Neville Wakefield, we commissioned 14 contemporary artists to create site-specific installations in the desert of AlUla. My biggest role as a curator was to ensure that there were three parallel dialogues to be held, between artist and landscape, artist and artist, and artist and visitor.
The artists worked diligently on integrating their works with the landscape; be that through conceptual connections with the area or utilising nature’s physical forces and exposure to its uncontrolled elements. There were many landscape surveys and sharing of weather condition reports that took place in preparation for this exhibition, all to ensure the safety of the environment and the artwork.
And in my opinion that becomes a common denominator between these site-specific installations and ancient ruins in the area. There were of course technicalities involved in the process, and assessment surveys have been carried out by heritage and archaeology specialists to ensure we adhere to the best practice to protect important archaeological and cultural areas.
Artists were invited to visit AlUla to engage with its environmental conditions, historical context and surrounding communities and then after propose their projections that reflect their inspiration and dialogue with the landscape. Each has its uniqueness and plays a pivotal role in the story of Desert X AlUla.
I’ve been visiting AlUla since 2012, either with guests from abroad to see some historic sites, or with friends on road trips, or even flying our guests of 21,39’s 1st edition for a tour in its beautiful historic sites in 2014. Till today, Every time I’m back I feel overwhelmed; I’m blown away, I become at loss of words to express my feelings.
Through works that are informed by the multiple layers of history and society shaping the region, I hope preconceived notions about the Middle East are also challenged. I hope this exhibition becomes a true platform for cultural dialogue and exchange, as it is an initiation of that, a call for all.
