Strings of light: Festival to celebrate Saudi musical heritage in historic Al-Balad

DHAHRAN: Drum Tao, the internationally acclaimed Japanese drumming ensemble, delivered a heart-pounding performance at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture’s theater on Wednesday night.

Their show at Ithra, titled “The Dream,” is running nightly until Feb. 1, with two performances on Jan. 31.

For over an hour, the audience regularly clapped in unison. With no lyrics, the performance relied entirely on sight and sound to tell its story.

The stage lighting shifted throughout, intending to evoke a range of emotions. The interplay of flute and drums created a soundscape that was at once soft and powerful, gentle yet aggressive.

The energy was serene and melancholic, tender and intense, seamlessly blending contrasts. The seemingly chaotic performance was expertly synchronized and at times humorous.

Known for their fusion of traditional wadaiko drumming, modern choreography, and dynamic storytelling, Drum Tao was founded in 1993 in Oita, Japan.

They have performed in more than 500 cities for more than 9 million spectators worldwide.

They made their off-Broadway debut in New York to a sold-out audience in 2016 before bringing their performances to Tokyo and Osaka’s most popular nightclubs in 2022 as a part of Club Tao.

Directed by Drum Tao founder Ikuo Fujitaka, the evening at Ithra fused the thunderous beats of taiko drums with the delicate melodies of Japanese flutes and harps.

The choreography — an athletic feat in itself — added another layer of spectacle, making it a true crowd pleaser.

For the audience, the evening was more than just a performance — it was a vivid exploration of Japanese culture.

The shows are part of a 17-day cultural exchange, “Ithra Cultural Days Japan,” which concludes on Feb. 8.

Other Japanese musicians and artists also traveled to Ithra to showcase their talents.

One of them, Kohei Matsumoto, whose performances can be seen at Ithra’s Lush Garden, spoke to Arab News about how Japanese music is fostering cultural exchange and understanding.

“I’m really happy to see (Saudi) Arabian people enjoying Japanese culture through music — people can experience authentic Japanese traditions here (at Ithra’s Japan cultural days),” Matsumoto said.

DUBAI: Set to run until Feb. 22, Dubai’s ICD Brookfield Place is playing host to an exhibition that explores the sense of wonder that accompanies being in awe.

“The Sublime Nature of Being,” a collaboration with ICD Brookfield Arts program, is curated by Ambika Hinduja Macker, who brought together the work of 15 international artists to lead visitors on a journey through moments of awe and reverence inspired by the grandeur of nature.

 

 

 

 

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“The sublime is an overwhelming sense of wonder, a feeling that transcends words and logic, pulling us into a moment of pure awe and connection. It’s what happens when we encounter something so profound, so vast, that it stirs both our soul and our senses, leaving us simultaneously humbled and uplifted. ‘The Sublime Nature of Being’ is my attempt to offer a tangible glimpse of this elusive feeling,” Macker told Arab News.

Is it a reimagining of her 2022 immersive art experience of the same name and the curator — who is the founder and creative director of art and design firm Impeccable Imagination — describes the experience as an alchemic sonic environment, one that “blends ancient techniques of sound healing with cutting-edge technologies to create an immersive soundscape rooted in reflection and renewal.”

 

 

 

 

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Specially commissioned artists include US contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, Belgian sculptor and contemporary artist Fred Eerdekensm Lebanese multi-disciplinary artist Nadim Karam and Brazilian artist Janaina Mello, among others.

“As a curator, my role is to weave these diverse expressions into a cohesive yet ephemeral narrative, creating an environment where materials, mediums, and artistic visions engage in dialogue with one another,” Macker explained.

The exhibition features a celebration of the five elements — “water, fire, earth, air, and spirit permeate the venue, each with its own curated space and featured works, all within a larger, interconnected environment,” the curator noted.

Works include several sculptures by Lebanese artist Karam, including “Silent Thinker” (2024), a polished stainless steel piece.

“(Karam) has developed a distinctive artistic language rooted in memory, space, and collective identity,” Macker explained. “His work embodies profound, ongoing reflections on societal diversity and pressing global issues, yet he seamlessly juxtaposes these important themes with playful, even absurdist, touches.”

A short walk away is “The Aquifer” (2024) by Hashimoto, a wall-hanging work featuring bamboo, acrylic, paper, wood and dacron.

 

 

 

 

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Colourful, pattern-printed discs are suspended by wire between pegs in the mesmerizing work that is just one of the many emotive pieces on show.

Despite the effort involved in bringing together 15 artists, Macker says the most challenging aspect of bringing “The Sublime Nature of Being” to fruition “was transforming a vibrant public hub without disrupting its accessibility or the daily rhythms of those who frequent it.”