King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Showcases Traditional Camel-Related Tools

The Saudi Heritage Commission's dedicated pavilion showcases the traditional tools. SPA
The Saudi Heritage Commission's dedicated pavilion showcases the traditional tools. SPA
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King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Showcases Traditional Camel-Related Tools

The Saudi Heritage Commission's dedicated pavilion showcases the traditional tools. SPA
The Saudi Heritage Commission's dedicated pavilion showcases the traditional tools. SPA

A Saudi Heritage Commission pavilion at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is showcasing important tools that Arabs had traditionally used in their daily interactions with camels, namely "Al-shaddad" and "Al-ja'ed," to introduce their historical significance to visitors.
Al-shaddad, a wooden structure placed on the camel's hump, serves as a seat for the shepherd. It also functions as a holder for saddles and two connected wool bags.
Al-ja'ed refers to tanned leather, stripped of its hair, that covers Al-shaddad, shielding from the sun's heat or cold weather. Characterized by vibrant colors and intricate engravings adorned with fringes, Al-ja'ed exemplifies the artistry and craftsmanship of past generations.
The Heritage Commission's dedicated pavilion showcasing these traditional tools provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about their historical importance and understand their integral role in the lives of past generations.
By preserving and displaying these artifacts, the festival aims to maintain the enduring connection between camels and the cultural identity of the nation.



Diriyah Art Futures Announces 'Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World' Exhibition

Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World will run from April 21 to July 19, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh
Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World will run from April 21 to July 19, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh
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Diriyah Art Futures Announces 'Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World' Exhibition

Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World will run from April 21 to July 19, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh
Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World will run from April 21 to July 19, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) announced on Sunday that its second major exhibition titled Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World will run from April 21 to July 19, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh.

Bringing together works by more than 40 artists from the MENA region, Maknana features pioneering voices from across the region who have embraced and redefined technology as a medium for creative expression.

Spanning decades and disciplines, from early video art and experimental film to generative systems and expanded media, Maknana offers a rare survey of how Arab artists have engaged with and reimagined the digital landscape on their own terms.

According to a DAF statement, the Arabic term ‘Maknana’, translated as automation, inspires the exhibition’s central inquiry: how Arab artists have navigated, repurposed, and challenged technologies to shape their own creative vocabularies.
The exhibition is structured across four thematic sections: Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch, which trace recurring artistic concerns and gestures across different generations, geographies, and technological paradigms.
In tandem with the exhibition, Diriyah Art Futures will present a public program of talks, performances, screenings, and workshops, expanding on the themes of Maknana and offering visitors direct engagement with artists and thought leaders in the field of new media art.