Riyadh International Book Fair Activities Draw Growing Number of Visitors

Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
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Riyadh International Book Fair Activities Draw Growing Number of Visitors

Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)

The Riyadh International Book Fair continues to attract a large audience, solidifying its status as a key cultural event.
Its diverse activities cater to various segments of society and age groups, ensuring a distinctive and enjoyable cultural experience for all, said the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
Some 2,000 publishing houses from 30 countries are taking part in this year's fair, showcasing a diverse array of literary works and cultural offerings.
The fair, organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is held at King Saud University from September 26 to October 5 under the theme "Riyadh Reads". It is a premier cultural event in the Kingdom and beyond that brings together local and international writers, publishers, translators, and readers, promoting cultural exchange and knowledge sharing.
It features a dedicated area for children that offers cultural and recreational activities, a special area that showcases the works of Saudi authors, and an area for book signings, enabling attendees to meet their favorite authors and obtain signed copies of their latest releases.



Saudi Museums Commission Showcases Chinese Contemporary Art for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
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Saudi Museums Commission Showcases Chinese Contemporary Art for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA

The Museums Commission inaugurated on Thursday the exhibition "The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow" at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, introducing contemporary artists of Chinese origin to Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Bringing together over 30 artists of different generations and cultural backgrounds, the exhibition showcases a collection of over 50 art pieces, offering diverse and nuanced perspectives on the profound transformation of our contemporary society.
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions by exploring two central elements they have in common: calligraphy and the garden. The exhibition highlights the profound significance of calligraphy as a cultural and societal practice in both Arabic and Chinese cultures, in which the written word and script are revered not only as a form of communication but also as a spiritual endeavor.
The balance between discipline and naturalness, a requirement for masterful calligraphy, links the field of writing with the domain of the garden. By definition, the garden is nature in an arranged order, and it is considered in both cultures a representation of creation, designed for the appreciation of beauty and spirituality, and for contemplation and conviviality.
"The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow" exhibition also reflects an aspiration towards future possibilities and ongoing dialogue, addressing the concepts of energy flow and synergy. Writing here is understood in a larger sense as the trace of a meaningful act of participation and communication.
The exhibition is designed as a stroll through a series of thematic stages, exploring the interplay between presence and absence, action and contemplation, memory and imagination
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore pieces from two notable Paris-based collections of contemporary Chinese art, the Donnersberg Collection and the dslcollection, as well as direct contributions from artists and site-specific works produced in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition. They will also see the works of a French-Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed and Taiwanese artist Michael Lin, showing for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
The exhibition showcases how the art of today continues to evolve, reflecting and reshaping the flow of cultural energy, connecting past and future, and embodying the promise of tomorrow.
The exhibition will run until January 18, 2025.