Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park
Italian sculptor partners with Riyadh Art and Italian embassy to bring contemporary art to public park
Installation aims to bring attention to conservation efforts for species that were once prevalent in the region
Updated 23 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Striking animal sculptures were unveiled in Riyadh’s Al-Nafal Park in the Diplomatic Quarter in a collaboration between Riyadh Art and Italian artist Davide Rivalta.
The installation features depictions of a cheetah, lion, lioness and buffalo, and was created in partnership with the Italian Embassy.
Under the theme, Echoes of Land, the sculptures encourage public engagement and contemplation of environmental and cultural heritage.
Omar Al-Braik, senior director of public art at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, said that the collaboration with Rivalta was an “enriching process.”
“Art has the power to transform public spaces, spark conversations and connect people with their surroundings in ways that are both profound and unexpected,” he said.
“By bringing Rivalta’s work to Riyadh, we continue to expand the city’s artistic landscape, ensuring that diverse voices and creative perspectives are accessible to all.”
This installation also brings attention to conservation efforts, particularly for species such as the cheetah, which once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula.
By introducing these sculptures to Riyadh, Rivalta’s work serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and natural ecosystems.
Born in 1974, Davide Rivalta is renowned for his striking, life-sized sculptures of animals, distinguished by their raw, textured surfaces.
Rivalta’s sculptures have been exhibited in cities across the world, with this latest installation marking his first contribution to Riyadh Art’s public art program.
Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has installed in excess of 550 public artworks, engaged more than 500 local and international artists, and hosted 6,500 community engagement activities, attracting 9.6 million visitors and spectators.
One significant initiative by Riyadh Art is the recent Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, in which 30 sculptures were created in live sessions, and will be displayed at public spaces around the city.
The organization’s efforts contribute to Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of enhancing culture and creativity in the Kingdom.
First Saudi traveling art exhibition makes a stop in Riyadh
Filwa Nazer told Arab News: “The focus was to document and research Jeddah modernist architecture between the late 30s and early 60s
Inspired by an old handwritten remedy book passed down to her by her mother, it transforms layered silkscreen prints and charcoal drawings on suspended mesh
Updated 25 February 2025
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: A Saudi traveling exhibition, titled “Art of the Kingdom: Poetic Illuminations,” opened on Monday in Riyadh at the Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art following its inauguration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last year.
Nestled in the capital’s Jax art district, the show brings together works by 17 prominent Saudi contemporary artists from different generations, regions, and artistic practices that demonstrate the country’s burgeoning art scene.
Basmah Felemban's "Brink of the Sea" (2025). (Supplied)
Mona Khazindar, adviser to the Ministry of Culture, said: “The Museums Commission is proud to present ‘Art of the Kingdom’ at SAMoCA at Jax, an exhibition showcasing Saudi Arabia’s dynamic artistic landscape, where tradition meets innovation.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Saudi creative practices in this way and invite audiences, both locally and internationally, to explore our history and culture through contemporary art.”
Daniah AlSaleh's "Hinat" (2022). (Supplied)
From paintings to installations and video works, the exhibition showcases the diversity and ambition of contemporary Saudi artists under two themes: the desert and cultural traditions.
Fatma Abdulhadi’s “It Will Heal” explores the evolving dialogue between humans and nature, where traditional practices become ongoing processes.
Fatma Abdulhadi’s "It Will Heal" (2025). (AN photo)
Inspired by an old handwritten remedy book passed down to her by her mother, it transforms layered silkscreen prints and charcoal drawings on suspended mesh. Just as plants communicate and adapt, the phrase “it will heal you, inshallah” reflects a belief in continuous connection and renewal.
“It’s a dialogue between humans and nature and everything in between, the recipe that humans do to feel safe, to feel healthy, to feel better,” Abdulhadi said.
Filwa Nazer’s “The Hands Want to See, The Eyes Want to Caress” (2021). (Supplied)
The sheets feature prints of the plants mentioned in the book as well as recipes in Arabic. The recipes are meant to help heal both physical and emotional troubles. One of the recipes for happiness recommends drinking camel milk with a drop of amber.
Moath Alofi has two works on display: “People of Pangea” and “The Last Tashahhud.” The former is a series of photos that provide an unconventional view of various locations in Saudi, while the latter is an ongoing photo series that captures small and modest mosques on the deserted roads leading to Madinah.
“These prayer rooms aren’t the usual ones, and this is what makes them really stand out. The raw architecture, the invention that the locals, tribals, Bedouins, or even philanthropists sometimes are trying to achieve by providing travelers a place for rest and worship and prayers—it’s interesting to see the material used, the architecture.
“I think international audiences will be surprised to see something that’s not usually shown,” Alofi told Arab News.
The work is shown in contrast with the anthropological sites captured in “People of Pangea” on the opposing wall of the exhibition.
“It’s not only about the locals or the people who built the mosques but also the ancient humans that actually lived on the land of Saudi Arabia 7,000 years ago. There has always been something happening in this Kingdom.
“You can see that Saudi artists are top notch — they’re up to the challenge, and I’m honored to be part of this as well,” Alofi said about local artists making it to international frontiers.
Filwa Nazer’s “The Hands Want to See, The Eyes Want to Caress” series incorporates sewing and embroidery on mixed media. The four pieces on display, each in dialogue with the other, explore the interplay of fragility and strength.
She told Arab News: “The focus was to document and research Jeddah modernist architecture between the late 30s and early 60s. My works were inspired by one house called Beit Ba Junaid — the owner of the house and its history and how it changed and evolved, and later on deteriorated over time and abandoned.
“I love being part of these exhibitions, organized by (the Ministry of Culture) and such, because I feel they are quite accessible to everyone, first of all. Second, they’re a place to connect with Saudi youth, and I want to have that communication with them, so I’m proud to be part of it and with my peers who are all great artists and friends.”
Other featured artists include Muhannad Shono, Lina Gazzaz, Manal Al-Dowayan, Ayman Zedani, Ahmed Mater, Ahaad Al-Amoudi, Shadia Alem, Faisal Samra, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Daniah Al-Saleh, Sarah Brahim, Ahmad Angawi, Nasser Al-Salem, and Basmah Felemban.
Nadim Karam talks Japanese inspiration, realities of artistic work
Updated 25 February 2025
Saffiya Ansari
DUBAI: Fresh off a group exhibition in Dubai, titled “The Sublime Nature of Being,” Arab News spoke to Lebanese artist and architect Nadim Karam about his inspirations, the power of mentorship and the “beating clock in the upper pocket of (his) shirt.”
The multi-disciplinary creative focuses on sculptures in varying scales, as well as works on paper and site-specific public art projects.
The multi-disciplinary creative focuses on sculptures in varying scales. (Supplied)
He most recently took part Dubai-based exhibition “The Sublime Nature of Being,” a collaboration with ICD Brookfield Arts program, where he showcased his polished stainless steel “Silent Thinker.”
“‘Silent Thinker’ is about total silence, or the inner void that strives to reach the sublime… the clarity found in inward silence is both oppositional and complementary to the stimulus and inspiration that can be found in the thriving, multi-cultural scene of Dubai,” he explained.
Karam’s formative years in Lebanon and his doctoral studies in Japan continue to be defining influences in his work. He studied under Japanese architects Fumihiko Maki, Tadao Ando, and Hiroshi Hara, who died in January.
“Professor Hara… profoundly influenced my thinking process. The most critical thing I learned from him is the discipline of applying a philosophical concept to a creative process and coming up with a product, which could be an architectural building, a sculpture or a designed object,” Karam said.
“Through his diverse studies — Buddhist philosophies and the double negation of Arazu-Arazu, his research on villages worldwide, and his deep interest in mathematics, music and cosmology — he taught me to widen my vision of the world and continuously ‘move on the edge of loose boundaries’ for a better understanding and acceptance of the complex world around me.”
(Supplied)
Hara, the architect known for designing Kyoto Station Building and Osaka’s Umeda Sky Building, is the mind behind award-winning buildings including the Tasaki Museum of Art in Nagano Prefecture and Yamato International Inc.’s Tokyo office in Ota Ward in Japan.
Karam’s paintings and sculptures have been exhibited worldwide and in 2002, he co-chaired the UN/New York University conference in London for the reconstruction of Kabul, Afghanistan.
When donning his curator’s hat — Karam was Lebanon’s curator at the 2003 Rotterdam Biennale, among other showcases — he believes his role is to facilitate the artist’s vision.
(Supplied)
“I would give priority to the artist, being one myself! When the artist has given their fullest, the work should touch the visitor. In the process of the development of a work, the most important thing is to be true to oneself, irrelevant of any other consideration. Then the curator’s role is to put the works in the context of the where, how, and what,” he explained.
With such a diverse schedule, it is a wonder the artist has time to himself to work — the ticking clock is something Karam says he is mindful of.
“The beating clock in the upper pocket of my shirt is always pushing me forward, sending me warnings and scheduling my work; especially in the case of the production of sculptures and public art projects which necessitates a complex structured mechanism which can involve hundreds of people, depending on the scale and nature of the work,” he said, noting that writing and painting are creative outlets that offer him the chance to slow down.
“During these times when I am alone, even the notion of the clock disappears, and only the painting remains.”
Crafting a future: Qatif’s artisans show off their skills
Woodworkers, tin shapers delight visitors to four-day event
Festival reflects Kingdom’s support for traditional crafts
Updated 24 February 2025
Hind AlKhunaizi
DHAHRAN: Qatif buzzed with excitement as it hosted a celebration of handicrafts, showcasing the talents of local artisans.
Under the patronage of Qatif Gov. Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, the four-day festival, which ended on Sunday, was held at the Anak Event Hall.
More than 200 booths displayed all manner of handcrafts, from traditional tools and knitted hammocks to jewelry, artisanal perfumes and incense.
The festival featured a “Future Artisans” section designed to inspire young creators and help ensure these ancient skills are never lost. (AN photo)
The event emphasized the importance of preserving traditions and their role in the local economy, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Among the artisans was Mohammad Moghais, a 47-year-old woodworker who builds miniature versions of old-fashioned homes and shops painted in vibrant colors.
“I started woodworking at 16. Back then, there were no modern tools like today’s oscillating saws. All we had were basic hand saws,” he told Arab News.
The event highlights Saudi Arabia’s support for traditional crafts and their economic role. (AN photo)
Moghais’ first project was a small chair and from there he progressed to making tables, wardrobes and sofas.
“The focus at first was on traditional crafts. We would take discarded wood and repurpose it,” he said. “I always find ways to improve my craft.”
Moghais said he was motivated by the changes he saw to his neighborhood following a renovation project that threatened its character.
The festival featured a “Future Artisans” section designed to inspire young creators and help ensure these ancient skills are never lost. (AN photo)
“It really hurt me to see that,” he said. “So I started making wooden fixtures, decorative pieces and items that reflected our traditional artistry, just like our forefathers used to make. That’s how I’ve continued my work over the years.”
Mohammad Alosaif is another of Qatif’s artisans, who showcased his expertise in crafting tin into everyday items like kettles and pots, a skill he learned from his father.
“I feel that the Kingdom’s ongoing support for these traditional crafts is essential, as they form the foundation of many modern industries,” he said.
The festival featured a “Future Artisans” section designed to inspire young creators and help ensure these ancient skills are never lost. (AN photo)
“It may be an old craft, but it evolves alongside modern industries. For example, tin was once used for oil cans, butter containers and paint cans. Craftsmen would cut the tin into sheets, shape, press and refine it, then mold it into various forms, emboss it and polish it to create useful items.”
For visitors, the event provided a rich tapestry of craftsmanship that told stories of heritage and artistic expression. There were also workshops at which people engaged in a range of activities, like macrame and making incense holders and soap.
The festival also featured a “Future Artisans” section designed to inspire young creators and help ensure these ancient skills are never lost.
Saudi artist teams up with Sephora for Founding Day
Updated 23 February 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Saudi visual artist Aseel Al-Yaagoub this week collaborated with Sephora to celebrate Saudi Founding Day through digital illustrations blending heritage and modern beauty.
One illustration features a henna-adorned hand reaching for a Sephora shopping bag descending with a parachute, set against traditional Arabian architecture.
Another depicts two Saudi women in cultural attire applying Sephora makeup, surrounded by palm trees and a patterned bird symbolizing creativity.
“Heritage meets artistry. This Founding Day we’re celebrating Saudi beauty and culture with a special collaboration with Saudi artist,” the artist wrote on Instagram.
Krasinski took to Instagram to express his gratitude and thank the people of Dubai for their support.
“So. Good. To be. Back! #JackRyanMovie is off and running!!! HUGE thank you to all the incredible folks here in Dubai for letting us kick off in epic fashion in your beautiful city! Here we go,” he wrote.
بدعم من مجلس دبي للإعلام، وتأكيداً لمكانة دبي كوجهة عالمية رائدة لتصوير الأفلام والإنتاجات السينمائية، اختتام عمليات التصوير الخاصة بفيلم "جاك رايان" في دبي، وهو من إنتاج "أمازون إم جي إم ستوديوز"، ومن بطولة النجم جون كرازنسكي، وإخراج أندرو بيرشتاين. pic.twitter.com/EBmyJ8XmJV
Directed by Andrew Burstein and produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the latest installment sees Krasinski return to the role of Tom Clancy’s eponymous hero. He previously played the CIA analyst-turned-operative in four Amazon Original series.
