Saudi Arabia’s first international contemporary art biennale is a step closer to launch, with the first artists announced for Diriyah Biennale.
Running from Saturday December 11 to Friday March 11, in the JAX district of Diriyah, the Diriyah Biennale will see almost 70 artists, both Saudi and international, examine the theme “Feeling the Stones” and create a dialogue around contemporary art.
The first artists announced for Diriyah Biennale are Manal Al Dowayan of Saudi Arabia, Xu Bing of China and John Gerrard of Ireland – setting the tone for a very much global curation of talent.
The first Saudi artist announced for Diriyah Biennale, Al Dowayan is perhaps best known for her work examining the nation’s gender customs and their impact on women, including 2005’s I Am photography series and 2014’s Crash. Installation Suspended Together (2011) is one of her best-known works, while her work has been exhibited both regionally and globally, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.
Chinese artist Xu Bing, best known for his print and installation pieces, has previously been exhibition at the likes of New York’s Guggenheim and London’s V&A, while Irish sculptor and digital simulations artist John Gerrard most recently formed part of the Galway International Arts Festival.
Part of Saudi’s drive to promote its cultural credentials, the Diriyah Biennale is designed to underscore the country’s drive towards a more open image, in line with Vision 2030.
Developed by a team of curators, helmed by Philip Tinari, director and chief executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in China, the Diriyah Biennale will be divided into six sections.
Its host location, JAX, is designed to become a permanent destination for art, creativity and cultural exchange, and will ultimately host a packed calendar of exhibitions.
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale is the first of Saudi’s two first art biennales – a second, which will focus on Islamic arts, is planned for 2022.
These are just the first three artists announced for Diriyah Biennale, with many more set to follow.
For more announcements on the Diriyah Biennale, stay tuned to Time Out.
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