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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
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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.

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Culture

AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
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AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA

AlUla Governorate is celebrating World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, by showcasing a historical legacy spanning thousands of years as a crossroads of ancient civilizations and a living testament to cultural continuity and architectural development, reinforcing its status as a premier global cultural center, SPA reported.

The governorate is home to landmarks of universal value, most notably Hegra, the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Other significant sites include AlUla Old Town, featuring over 900 traditional mud-brick houses that reflect the region's historical social fabric and unique architectural heritage.

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects.

These efforts ensure the sustainability of its heritage for future generations, aligning with international standards for protecting human history and promoting global cultural awareness.

Culture

UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
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UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo

Britain is considering introducing entry fees for tourists visiting some of England's most renowned museums, a proposal that has drawn criticism from restitution groups and countries while disputed artefacts remain on display.

Free admission to Britain's national museums and galleries was introduced in 2001 by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair in a bid to make culture more accessible to all.

Last month, the UK government said it would work with the museum sector to explore the potential benefits of charging international visitors at ⁠national museums, including how ⁠this could support the arts sector. It would provide an update of the consultation before the end of the year, it said.

However, the proposal is facing backlash amid growing calls worldwide for artefacts to be sent back to their communities or countries of origin, Reuters reported.

Although some efforts have been made to confront the long-standing issue, artifacts as well as human ⁠remains taken during the colonial era are still held in various museums across Europe. Some long-standing claims for artifacts involving the British Museum include Greece's Parthenon Sculptures, known as Elgin marbles, and Nigeria's Benin Bronzes.

The British Museum has previously said that the strength of its collection lies in enabling millions of visitors to understand the world's cultures and how they are interconnected.

Ghana, which has some of its regalia and other artifacts in British institutions, said charging foreign visitors to view such objects raises issues of "fairness," particularly where restitution discussions remain ongoing, ⁠foreign minister ⁠Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Reuters.

The proposal, if implemented, would be "unethica," said Eric Phillips, vice chair of the Caribbean Community's reparations commission, a bloc of 15 member states including Jamaica and Barbados.

"Why should we have to pay to see our heritage?" Phillips said.

Arley Gill, chairman of Grenada's national reparations committee, said the priority should be to return the artifacts to their "rightful owners."

Open Restitution Africa (ORA) said Africans and others already face barriers to accessing artifacts taken from their countries and held in Western museums, including visa requirements and travel costs.

"Introducing entry fees further compounds these inequalities," ORA said.

Meanwhile, the US-based non-profit Restitution Study Group said a fee exemption for such visitors would be a "meaningful gesture."

The government declined to comment on the criticism.

Culture

Riyadh Art Unveils 75 Works in Expanding Public Art Collection Across Capital

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
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Riyadh Art Unveils 75 Works in Expanding Public Art Collection Across Capital

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, through its “Riyadh Art” program, has unveiled 75 new artworks as part of a growing permanent collection installed across key locations in the capital.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to expand the presence of public art in urban spaces, with additional installations planned in the coming period.

The program aims to enrich daily life in Riyadh by integrating art into the urban fabric, contributing to a dynamic cultural environment that reflects the capital's regional and international stature.

As one of the world’s largest public art initiatives, the Riyadh Art program now features 75 installations, with plans to expand the collection by adding 115 more works. The current collection includes contributions from 35 Saudi artists and 100 international artists representing 45 countries.

Among the internationally renowned artists featured are Anish Kapoor, Giuseppe Penone, and Jeff Koons, alongside prominent Saudi artists such as Zaman Jassim, Mohammed Alsaleem, and Manal AlDowayan.

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs, enabling residents and visitors to engage with them as part of their everyday environment and reinforcing the role of art in public life.

The collection comprises both commissioned and acquired works. Commissioned pieces are specifically designed to respond to their surroundings, integrating with the urban context and patterns of movement within each location.

Recent commissions were selected through an international competition that attracted 161 artists, with 72 shortlisted participants submitting 70 proposals. These contributions have helped shape a diverse and evolving collection spanning the city’s main axes and public spaces.