The exhibition is part of a broader initiative by Arts AlUla to promote the ancient oasis city as a rising art and creativity hub. Known historically for trade and cultural significance, AlUla is home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, and boasts a storied connection to the Incense Road.

“Orbis Tertius” brings this heritage into focus, presenting diverse mediums that reflect the region’s pre-Islamic heritage and its current creative renaissance.

Artists created their works within the residency’s inspiring settings, including Mabiti AlUla’s palm groves and AlJadidah’s new residence facilities. Morand highlighted the theme “Orbis Tertius, A Journey Between Fictions and Myths” as a response to the area’s evocative mix of legend and reality, aiming to provoke a “dynamic dialogue” among artists, local experts, and residents.

Notable exhibits include Monira Al-Qadiri’s striking aluminum sculpture “The Guardian,” based on the resilient Calotropis Procera plant native to the region. Meanwhile, multidisciplinary artist Anhar Salem’s “A Day in AlUla” showcases local lives, balancing personal narratives with broader cultural reflections. The Gazzaz brothers, co-founders of Bricklab, introduced sustainable construction methods in rammed earth, blending regional materials with AlUla’s layered history. Works by artists like Ayman Zedani and Reem Al-Nasser continue this thoughtful engagement with the area’s natural and anthropological heritage.

The exhibit reinforces AlUla’s role as a bridge for cultural exchange, supporting the vision to create a sustainable, globally recognized creative center. “We are showcasing the extraordinary artistic vision flourishing in AlUla,” said Nora Aldabal, RCU’s executive director, “a place where ancient history meets contemporary art.”

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Titled “Oasis of Stories” and “Their Love Is Like All Loves, Their Death Is Like All Deaths,” these exhibitions mark a significant moment in the burgeoning art scene of Saudi Arabia, reflecting not only AlDowayan’s artistic prowess but also the rich tapestry of narratives woven by the people of AlUla.

The first exhibition, “Oasis of Stories,” currently on display in the AlJadidah Arts District as part of the AlUla Arts Festival 2024 until March 23, serves as a homage to the vibrant heritage and daily lives of AlUla’s residents. AlDowayan’s meticulous drawings, born from workshops attended by 700 participants from diverse walks of life, encapsulate the essence of the region’s cultural metamorphosis and collective identity. Through these intimate renderings, AlDowayan offers a glimpse into the realities, dreams, and aspirations of the local community, ensuring their narratives endure as a part of AlUla’s artistic legacy.

Moreover, “Oasis of Stories” foreshadows AlDowayan’s ambitious desert installation, slated for completion in 2026, wherein the tales and drawings of AlUla’s inhabitants will be immortalized within the labyrinthine walls of the Old Town, bridging the past with the present in a monumental testament to cultural continuity.

Speaking about her immersive experience within the community, Manal AlDowayan expressed her commitment to fostering a space for the contemporary inhabitants of AlUla to share their stories, emphasizing the importance of preserving these narratives for future generations.

Wadi AlFann’s lead curator, Iwona Blazwick, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of integrating modern artistic expressions into AlUla’s timeless desert landscape. Blazwick emphasized the valley’s rich history, spanning millennia of human presence evidenced by intricate rock art and petroglyphs while envisioning a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation in the forthcoming artistic commissions.

In parallel, AlDowayan’s second exhibition, “Their Love Is Like All Loves, Their Death Is Like All Deaths,” presented in collaboration with the Sabrina Amrani Gallery, explores themes of ruin and heritage inspired by the ancient tombs of AlUla. Through sculptural works, drawings, and intricately woven Sadu textiles, AlDowayan invites viewers on a contemplative journey through time, where echoes of the past intertwine with the present.

With a keen focus on community engagement and inclusivity, AlDowayan’s exhibitions serve as catalysts for cultural dialogue and artistic expression, embodying Saudi Arabia’s transformative moment in the realm of public art. As the Kingdom embraces a vision where art becomes ingrained in its communities, AlDowayan’s visionary approach sets a precedent for a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape, where every voice finds resonance and every story is cherished.

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The exhibitions showcase a diverse array of artworks and designs during the AlUla Arts Festival taking place from 9th February to 2nd March 2024. Artistic pieces are created by talented artists and designers who participated in both residency programmes, which are part of the overarching AlUla Artist Residency Programme, founded in partnership with the French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula). Located in two distinct outdoor venues, the exhibitions will be hosted at Mabiti in The Palm Grove, and Madrasat Addeera, providing the perfect platforms to celebrate the culmination of creative endeavours.

The Visual Art Residency’s exhibition “The Shadow Over Everything”, curated by Maryam Bilal transforms Mabiti’s palm grove into an immersive exhibition. Artworks seamlessly intertwine along the main path and spill over amidst the trees. At the entrance, visitors encounter a floor installation “What we fear and wish to lose, what we love and wish to save”, by Bianca Bondi and Guillaume Bouisset, imagining other-worldly realities through the use of speculative landscapes. Further down, Joel Spring’s video installation, “CLEAN$ED”, tackles AlUla’s economic generation plans, and is accompanied by Maitha Abdalla’s performance and body of sculptures, “If…To be born”. The main path concludes with Hugo Servanin’s monumental “Environment 9 (Object 40 and Giant 44)”, which engages with sand as the principal material of AlUla. Retracing steps along a parallel path, Marlon de Azambuja’s “Nucleo Aldebaran (Aldebaran Core)” and “The Human Condition” multiple interventions await. Returning to the entrance, visitors conclude their journey with Reem Al Nasser’s brilliant steel gates attempting to unearth a forgotten knowledge system, “Alma of the North”, and with an immersive installation at the intersection of AI and landscapes “The Dream of Stones” by Gregory Chatonsky. The exhibition invites contemplation of individual artworks and a holistic experience, turning the palm grove into a canvas for artistic expression.

The Design Residency’s exhibition “Unguessed Kinships”, curated by Ali Ismail Karimi, reshapes Madrasat Addeera, and encourages diverse interactions.” Unguessed Kinships” implies unforeseen connections and relationships within the AlUla Design Residency context. Leo Orta’s “Peculiar Erosions” blends art and design, showcasing sculptural pieces reflecting AlUla’s materials and crafts. Leen Ajlan’s “Takki” offers a playful experience with Saudi folk games, fostering social interaction. Studio Raw Material’s “From Debris” delves into AlUla’s history in a tent scenography. Moving outdoors, the basketball court features two completely modular installations, Hall Haus’ “Haus Dari” and Bahraini-Danish’s “Surface!”. “Surface!” provides a steel half-pipe system that acts as a shade for the Majlis reminiscent seating arrangement “Haus Dari”. The open space invites guests to explore freely, engaging in various activities like playing games, networking, or relaxing. The exhibition concludes with a return to Leo Orta’s work, leaving the visitors with a final touch from AlUla’s version of the desert.

Maryam Bilal, Curator of AlUla Visual Art Residency, explored the idea of a land or a place being the main inspiration behind the art-making process. Bilal emphasised the importance of AlUla as the new frontier of artistic dialogue against opinions doubting its impact during current global tensions and assured that the artwork present there will provide hope for the times to come. She explained that “The Shadow Over Everything” is an exhibition that “resonates between inspiration and intention”, and that AlUla can become a muse to fuel the resident artists. She ended with an abstract description of the hidden forces harboured within AlUla’s material aspects and how they play a role in the presented artworks.

Ali Ismail Karimi, Curator of AlUla Design Residency, expressed his enthusiasm for curating the first iteration of the design residency in AlUla by describing how such a new location can provide the opportunity to explore and expand the bounds of design. Karimi also mentions how AlUla became a convergence point for all the aspects of the Saudi future, from geological structures to human history and production. He displayed interest in how AlUla can pose a challenge for designers in terms of applying their methodologies in such a different context. Lastly, he assures that the designers have taken their prompts with confidence and ambition and are already exploring ways of creating designs at impressive scales. They have also been interacting with the native archaeologists and professionals to learn more about the history of AlUla and gather feedback. Ali ends by stating that the designs will span across a multitude of issues from simple materials to building complex systems.

AlUla Artist Residency Programme exemplifies AlUla’s commitment to becoming a global hub for creative minds, offering diverse programmes this year in visual arts, design, botanical landscaping, heritage, and innovation.

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Through its series of exhibitions, workshops, and archive, under the direction of Sara Ghani, who also curated the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Design Space AlUla aims to engage with emerging and established design professionals, regionally and internationally, to explore design principles and creative design processes through the lens of AlUla’s natural and cultural landscape. The space will be inclusive of all design disciplines, from architecture and urban planning to product and graphic design. It will support and engage with the design community while highlighting the wider role of design in the region’s character, quality of life, and the wider economy.

Design Space AlUla is a contemporary building made of corten steel, glass, and polished concrete. The architecture, designed by Giò Forma Studio, is a homage to the breezeblock used widely across buildings in the surrounding Al Jadidah Arts District. Shaped around a plaza, the luminous courtyard design is complemented by the exposed geometrical brickwork, taking the form of an intricate lattice façade, bringing further light and natural ventilation throughout the building.

The inaugural exhibition, Mawrid: Celebrating Inspired Design, will introduce the design thinking process behind 10 recent AlUla-inspired designs across design, architecture, and urban planning. It will be the first in an ongoing exhibition program, launching on February 15, 2024, and lasting until June 1, 2024.

Projects explored in the exhibition include Giò Forma Studio/Black Engineering’s Maraya, a 9,740m² mirror-clad venue that blends with its awe-inspiring surroundings, echoing the natural textures and colours of AlUla; the plans for the renovation of Madrasat Addeera, AlUla’s first arts and design centre, by UK based Hopkins Architects; Roth Architecture’s Azulik Eco Resort which draws inspiration from the stories of wind and erosion, ensuring the project seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings; SAL Architects’ renovation of the historic Ammar Bin Yasser Mosque, which collaborated closely with the community to ensure a respectful and harmonious transformation; and AlUla’s Cultural Oasis District Masterplan, guided by Prior + Partners in collaboration with Allies and Morrison, each driven by the mission to cherish and protect the cultural and natural landscape that has made AlUla a place where communities, travellers, traders and pilgrims have, for millennia, wanted to live, pass through, rest, and exchange cultural traditions.

Other exhibitors include finalists from the second edition of the AlUla Design Award, Imane Mellah, Teeb, Sara Kanoo, and Shaddah Studio, and representation from the first edition of the AlUla Design Residency. The residency is a five-month program in AlUla that brings together designers and experts on-site to work across multiple disciplines such as infrastructure development and architectural design, exploring public realm interventions and urban furniture, sustainability, and local building materials.  The five design practices engaged in the residency are Bahraini-Danish from Bahrain and Denmark, Hall Haus from France, Studio Leo Orta from France, Studio Raw Material from India, and Leen Ajlan from Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition also explores the visual identity of Design Space AlUla created by Clara Sancho Studio and design agency 29Letters from Madrid. The logo draws on a wide range of inspiration from across AlUla, from ancient inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah to the distinctive breezeblocks in AlJadidah and other architectural elements of AlUla’s more recent visual terrain.

In time, these projects will enter the Design Space AlUla archive, which will serve as a growing source of design inspiration as well as a living compendium of local design initiatives. The workshop and archive will also host aspiring designers in AlUla’s resident community who want to participate in the creative space.

Sara Ghani, Curator, of Design Space AlUla, said, “Design Space AlUla commits to celebrating AlUla’s natural history, its cultural heritage, and vernacular materials—inspiring sustainable futures that are rooted in place. Our ambition is to fuel the design economy, provide resources to designers to explore and experiment, and be a place for visitors to research, explore, and connect with the processes behind AlUla’s design journey.”

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The three-week program is designed to cast a spotlight on AlUla’s pivotal role as a hub for creative inspiration and cultural interchange. By stimulating imagination, fostering dialogue, and positioning AlUla as a prominent center for contemporary art integrated with the landscape, the festival aspires to revive ancient artistic traditions of past civilizations.

A highlight of the festival is the third edition of Desert X AlUla, scheduled from February 8 to March 23. This site-responsive exhibition, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, will showcase visionary contemporary artworks against the breathtaking desert backdrop of AlUla. The exhibition invites a cross-cultural artistic exchange, featuring works by both Saudi and international artists, and is complemented by the upcoming Wadi AlFann, a cultural destination slated to open in 2026. This space will host permanent contemporary land art installations, adding a timeless dimension to AlUla’s desert landscape.

As part of the pre-opening program at Wadi AlFann, festivalgoers can explore an exhibition by renowned Saudi artist Manal Al-Dowayan. Her work intricately weaves together stories from AlUla’s communities, providing a compelling prelude to her groundbreaking commission, “Oasis of Stories.” Notably, Al-Dowayan is set to represent the Kingdom at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia from April 20 to November 24, further solidifying AlUla’s position on the global art stage.

The festival’s flagship event lineup includes the exhibition “More than Meets the Eye,” showcasing modern and contemporary works by Saudi artists. With the support of prominent art collectors, this exhibition aims to re-canonize the history of Saudi Arabian art, documenting the stories of artists and recent art movements. It serves as a crucial prelude to the opening of AlUla’s contemporary art museum, focusing on regional and global contemporary art with a special emphasis on the Arab world.

Madrasat Addeera, AlUla’s mixed-use creative hub, will provide the picturesque backdrop for workshops covering a range of artistic disciplines, including palm weaving, pottery, jewelry-making, geometry, 3D structures, textiles, and more. Additionally, the Arts Festival will mark the opening of Design Space AlUla, introducing its inaugural exhibition and offering culture enthusiasts a glimpse into the evolving landscape of contemporary design.

With its diverse and immersive offerings, the AlUla Arts Festival promises not only to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the region but also to spark a renewed sense of creativity and innovation, setting the stage for AlUla to emerge as a global epicenter for the arts.

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As a component of the Alula Arts Festival, Alicia Keys will perform at the Maraya Concert Hall, which is constructed of mirrors. The festival commences on Thursday and lasts until February 28. Additionally, Keys will organize a second Women to Women talk at Madrasat Addeera on February 25.

During the Women to Women talk, the panel will engage in a conversation concerning initiatives related to the empowerment of women and the general advancements made by women in the area.

Alicia Keys previously performed at the same venue in the previous year, which required her fans to traverse along old, meandering roads while navigating complex rock formations to witness her concert.

Alicia Keys started creating music at the age of 12, and due to her classical training as a pianist, she was able to hone her skills to a professional level. She was subsequently signed by Columbia Records at the age of 15. With more than 90 million albums sold, Keys is regarded as one of the most successful musicians worldwide. According to Billboard, she was named the best R&B artist of the 2000s decade.

The performance at AlUla is organized by Good Intentions, a creative consultancy firm that was recently established in Saudi Arabia. The company’s co-founders include Kasseem “Swizz Beats” Dean, who is not only Alicia Keys’ husband but also co-produced her latest album titled “Keys.”

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The AlUla Arts Festival 2023, with the theme “Living in Color,” examines works of art that celebrate polychromaticity and infuses the distinctive setting with vibrant hues through curated public art installations and special exhibitions, such as FAME: Andy Warhol in AlUla, which introduces works by the American contemporary artist to the kingdom for the first time. In order to specifically respond to the mirrored building Maraya, a dedicated arts and culture venue in AlUla, FAME was created in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was curated by Patrick Moore, the director of the museum. In addition to his revolutionary installation Silver Clouds and archival photographs, the exhibition will include Warhol’s well-known paintings and prints of Hollywood stars and other celebrities.

FAME will also be accompanied by a robust program of performances, talks, and workshops, including the 13 Most Beautiful, large-scale projections of Warhol’s silent films set to a specially commissioned live soundtrack by cult rock duo Dean and Britta which will take place at Maraya on February 16, according to Zawya. With a spotlight on the inspiring desert landscapes of AlUla, guided art tours offer visitors a chance to traverse AlUla’s unique landscape through the lens of art. The Art in the Landscape Guided Hike will introduce audiences to the Wadi AlFann landscapes, which will be the site of art commissions by the likes of world-renowned artists James Turrell, Agnes Denes, and Michael Heizer and regional heroes Manal Al Dowayan and Ahmed Mater within the 65-sq-km valley, with the first works to be available from 2024.

Aimed at adventurous art lovers, the ticketed guided hike will last six hours, with participants navigating the canyons and stunning desert trail while learning about the Wadi AlFann vision and artist narrative. The hike will also include a visit to the Art in the Landscape public art installations that were originally part of Desert X AlUla 2022.

Continuing AlUla’s program of artist residency ‘Palimpsest of Time’, from February 17 to March 18 is an exhibition and open studio bringing together 13 artists from the current and previous AlUla Artists Residency programme The multidisciplinary artists have all lived and worked in the unique setting of AlUla, fostering dialogue and collaboration with AlUla’s scientific and local population. The exhibition is hosted in Mabiti- a guest house and palm grove home to the artist residency – an additional installation at Madrasat Addeera celebrates all 25 creatives who have experienced the residency program so far.

AlUla’s new and exciting arts, culture and dining village, AlJadidah will be the setting for a range of public art and interactive events. 100 Best Arabic Posters in AlJadidah, presents eye-catching graphic designs from the Arab world. Launched in 2015 at the German University of Cairo, the unique platform showcases the latest innovations within the region’s contemporary visual culture, serving as a reference for graphic designers, visual artists, and scholars within the Arab world and beyond.

A compelling and immersive installation has been commissioned by Arts AlUla for AlUla’s Oasis. The artwork, titled Resonant Shell by artists Nathalie Harb and Youmna Saba will provide a meditative experience as visitors enter an architectural structure that acoustically isolates external sounds, bringing to focus a sound-work drawn from AlUla’s desert and geology. Located in the Oasis, the site-specific artwork takes the shape of a tower with mudbrick and fabric as its material.

Led by Hukat AlFann, the Living in Colour Guided Tours will take visitors through the Community Square in the Arts District and Oasis to see newly commissioned and temporary public art, including community artworks and murals by artist eL Seed, as well as the unique community hand-painted urban carpet in AlJadidah. The duration of the ticketed tour is 75 minutes, though visitors can also conduct a self-guided tour with the help of AlUla Art’s print and digital guides.

Of Myhrr and Silver Scent Walking Tours will evoke the rich history of the Incense Road, leading visitors through an immersive journey of scents, from myrrh to botanicals to roasted Arabic coffee. Weaving through the oasis, AlJadidah, and Old Town, the ticketed tour will also offer encounters with sound and music related to the ancient trading route.

AlJadidah is also the site for the specially constructed Cinema AlJadidah and a curated film program AlUla Cinema Week. With programming in partnership with the Red Sea International Film Festival, this cozy and atmospheric outdoor cinema will play a special selection of films from Saudi Arabia, the wider Arab world, and beyond. Complementing the FAME: Andy Warhol in AlUla exhibition the cinema will also have a curated Warhol weekend of documentaries, features and artist films. The film program will be complemented by talks and a photography exhibition dedicated to Egyptian female cinema icons.

In addition, returning by popular demand, Fringe – the AlUla Performing Arts Festival will enliven AlJadidah with street-style performances, music and arts for audiences of all ages and abilities. Free to all to enjoy each evening during the festival.

Specifically aimed at engaging the local community through art, the Madrasat Addeera Program comprises arts and crafts workshops at various levels in subjects such as wood carving, textile weaving, palm frond weaving, geometry, and decorative design.

Additionally, the AlUla Canon Young People’s Program, from February 20 to 28, will give budding photographers the opportunity to learn visual storytelling through a workshop that will culminate in an outdoor exhibition. Arts AlUla Festival will run until February 28, with some programs extending through May.

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Nine Songs, a work by Chinese musician, vocalist, and artistic director Rui Fu that was commissioned by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), brings together an elite group of performers from around the world. The Chu Ci (Songs of Chu), an ancient collection of romantic Chinese poetry from the first century BC, served as inspiration for Fu’s new work, which he created in collaboration with artistic co-director Farooq Chaudhry and musical director Jocelyn Pook. Fu also reacted to the dramatic topography, undulating vistas, and remarkable geological structures of AlUla.

Nine Songs takes its inspiration from the Jiu Ge collection, one of the Songs of Chu’s seventeen sections, whose poems serve as prayers to the sky, mountains, and rivers. The ritualistic performance, which connects music and movement with the surrounding landscape, is set against the stunning sandstone cliffs and canyons of AlUla. It reimagines the sublime, delicate, and ancestral bond between art, landscape, and humanity.

Rui Fu is an expert in interpreting Chinese ethnic musical traditions in an improvised and impressionistic manner. She collaborates with musicians from minority tribes in China to explore indigenous practices and rare instruments and is known for singing in her own invented, non-lexical language that transcends cultural boundaries. She has been greatly influenced by the temporal, timbral, and rhythmic flexibilities of such traditions.

The performance of Nine Songs kicks off the Wadi AlFann pre-opening program, which also includes temporary exhibitions, artist residencies, and public symposia. It was co-produced by the Royal Commission for AlUla and Skye Blue Productions. A public program including educational opportunities, skill-based engagement, discussions with art specialists, workshops for local creatives, and more will be presented in conjunction with the opening of the first five artworks in 2024.

AlUla is a magnificent location rich in natural and artistic heritage and a history of intercultural engagement. The area, historically located along the incense trade route and formerly serving as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Dadan, is home to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is again reviving its reputation as an essential cultural attraction since it is a living museum of history, the arts, and the environment.

The magnificent setting of Wadi AlFann inspired the Royal Commission for AlUla to commission this piece as a tribute to the profound connection between art and nature that can be discovered in this singular valley. People from all over the world, regardless of country, language, or background, find Rui Fu’s art to be profoundly moving since it touches on issues of genealogy, civilization, and humanity. Wadi AlFann’s program of public events, through which residents and tourists can experience the arts and culture as a source of education and enrichment, is launched spectacularly with Nine Songs.

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The exhibition, titled “Fame: Andy Warhol in AlUla,” is being put on by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Andy Warhol Museum, and it will be directed by Patrick Moore, the institution’s director.

The show will open on February 17, 2023, at the Maraya, a gleaming mirrored building in the desert.

The show will feature Warhol’s prints, his well-known “screen tests,” and more. Its main theme will be the many ways the pop artist portrayed celebrities, from Muhammed Ali to Dolly Parton.

“FAME is intended to be an introduction to the aspect of Warhol that I believe is most fascinating to many young people, including Saudi youth, as Andy Warhol’s journey, which started as a child staring at the movie screen and collecting publicity stills, is becoming more common through the rise of social media,” expressed Moore in a statement.

The Warhol exhibition’s press release hailed this spectacular partnership with Saudi Arabia as possibly revolutionary for local art enthusiasts.

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Al-Dabal participated in a panel discussion titled “Culture and Creative Ecosystems: Future Foresight” in Guadalajara, Mexico, along with Victoria Contreras, CEO of Conecta Cultura, and Chris Dercon, director of the Rmn-Grand Palais in Paris. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Tom Fleming, an international authority on the creative economy.

Regarding the process of reimagining heritage, Al-Dabal said in response to a question, “I think AlUla is an open living museum and part of this journey is to engage creatives both locally and globally as well as the extremely truly inspirational countryside that brings heritage, natural order, and creativity all together.

“And the discussion between those three is quite significant. Therefore, the interaction between the creatives and their environment is now more about how the work communicates to its environment than about the work itself. Because you cannot ignore the terrain, which engulfs and overtakes you, you must, however, also express yourself. So, in my opinion, it’s that conversation and connection that comes through.

Reviving AlUla as a significant artistic and cultural attraction for tourists from across the world and enhancing the local community are both goals of the RCU.

Al-Dabal spoke on the value of sustainability at AlUla in relation to this. We have a system that’s being developed to harvest monuments as works of art, she added, referring especially to Wadi AlFann, one of AlUla’s most important cultural treasures.

“Its sustainability is a big part of the conversation with the artist,” continued Al-Dabal, “and it’s basically the artist’s representation of the outdoors, bringing design and art together in a way that safeguards nature and making sure that you’re leaving no trace or little intervention within this larger context.”

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