Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is participating in the inaugural edition of Riyadh Art Week, organized by the Visual Arts Commission. The event, which kicked off on Sunday, will run until April 13 in the Jax District and Al-Mousa Center, in addition to other locations across Riyadh.

During Riyadh Art Week, Ithra Center is presenting a selection of 15 important artworks from its museum collection, titled "Landscapes and Memory," as part of the event's invited collections exhibition, "Collections in Dialogue," in the JAX area.

The exhibition highlights a rich and diverse range of artistic practices and cultural expressions, featuring works by local and international artists, sculptures, paintings, and installations, offering a captivating glimpse into Ithra's precious art collection.

The exhibition also includes works by distinguished artists, including “Knowledge Excavations” by Saudi artist and filmmaker Mohammed Al Faraj (2022), “Oil Candy” by Maha Malluh (Saudi Arabia -- 2019), and three works by American artist Gregory Mahoney: “Sea Land” (1991), “Five Gallons / Five Oceans” (1995), and “The End of the World” (1993).

Also on display are: Screens (2005) by South Korean artist Do Ho Soo, three photographs by Saudi photographer Moath Al-Awfi, The Scene (2019), I Am the One (2019), and The Family (2019), in addition to Figure in Communication by Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto (2019), Who Am I? by Lebanese calligrapher Jumana Medlej (2015), and Sultan bin Fahd 1440 (2016) by Saudi Artist Sultan bin Fahd.

Tornado by Palestinian sculptor Abdulrahman Qatanani (2020), The Place Is Mine, Series 3 by Palestinian artist Hazem Harb (2019), and Burning by Egyptian painter and sculptor Moataz Nasr (2019) are part of the exhibition. The exhibition offers a glimpse into Ithra’s diverse collection, highlighting its diversity and celebrating the vibrancy of contemporary art.

“Ithra’s participation in Riyadh Arts Week is an opportunity to celebrate creative expression and embrace diverse artistic and cultural perspectives,” said Farah Abu Shalih, Director of Ithra Museum. “Ithra is also an opportunity to share a glimpse into Ithra Museum and its rich art collection.”