Over 60 Artists to Illuminate Riyadh Under the Theme ‘Light Years Apart’

Artworks will be displayed at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District. SPA
Artworks will be displayed at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District. SPA
TT

Over 60 Artists to Illuminate Riyadh Under the Theme ‘Light Years Apart’

Artworks will be displayed at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District. SPA
Artworks will be displayed at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District. SPA

Noor Riyadh is set to return in its fourth edition between November 28 and December 14, bringing together over 60 artists of 18 nationalities to illuminate the Saudi capital under the theme "Light Years Apart.”

According to a statement sent to the Saudi Press Agency, this year's festival features a broad spectrum of creators, including visual artists, industrial designers, sculptors, musicians, and photographers, who will transform Riyadh into a canvas of light and creativity.

Artworks will be displayed at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah, and the JAX District.

This year's theme explores the profound connection between Althara (the earth) and Althuraya (the sky), examining humanity's journey and its pursuit of the greatest aspirations. The festival will unveil new site-specific commissions by artists such as Abdul Rahman Taha, Athar Alharbi, Jukan Tatesi, Takeshi Yasura, Kimchi and Chips, Lachlan Turczan, Maryam Tariq, Nasser Al Turki, and Takayuki Mori.

According to the statement, the 2024 edition features 18 Saudi and 43 international artists, from Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye, the UK, the UAE, and the US.

Curators Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag and Dr. Alfredo Cramerotti invited visitors to embark on a journey across Riyadh.

King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Riyadh's foremost cultural landmark, hosts exhibitions and museums that celebrate the Kingdom's rich heritage, blending the past and present.
With green corridors, flowing streams, and winding trails, Wadi Hanifah transports visitors to the city's natural landmark, offering an open-air setting to engage with artworks amidst serene surroundings.
Known for its creativity, art galleries, and cultural projects, JAX District serves as a hub for contemporary arts, offering visitors a wide range of modern artistic expressions.
In addition to the captivating light art displays, the festival will offer workshops, artistic dialogue sessions, and a variety of community engagement programs.

Festival Director Nouf Almoneef emphasized the festival's impact. "Riyadh Art and Noor Riyadh celebrate the artistic spirit that thrives in our city and beyond. From families to emerging artists and students, Noor Riyadh offers a platform for artistic exchange and discovery, uniting residents and visitors through the magic of light art,” she said.

“By enhancing Riyadh's livability through festivals, community activities, and permanent artworks, the city has transformed into a vibrant cultural destination."

This year's Noor Riyadh promises to captivate audiences with its blend of artistic ingenuity, community participation, and urban transformation.

All along, Noor Riyadh has transformed the city into a radiant cultural landmark, creating unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors alike. The festival has seen so far over 388 artworks created by over 300 artists from around the globe; it has hosted more than 6,000 activities that engage and inspire.

Attracting over 6 million visitors, Noor Riyadh has achieved an extraordinary 14 Guinness World Records, cementing its reputation as the largest and most impactful light art festival in the world.



Parts of Great Barrier Reef Suffer Highest Coral Mortality on Record

FILE PHOTO: Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
TT

Parts of Great Barrier Reef Suffer Highest Coral Mortality on Record

FILE PHOTO: Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

Parts of the Great Barrier Reef have suffered the highest coral mortality on record, Australian research showed Tuesday, with scientists fearing the rest of it has suffered a similar fate.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science said surveys of 12 reefs found up to 72 percent coral mortality, thanks to a summer of mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding, reported AFP.
In one northern section of the reef, about a third of hard coral had died, the "largest annual decline" in 39 years of government monitoring, the agency said.
Often dubbed the world's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300 kilometer (1,400-mile) expanse of tropical corals that house a stunning array of biodiversity.
But repeated mass bleaching events have threatened to rob the tourist drawcard of its wonder, turning banks of once-vibrant corals into a sickly shade of white.
Bleaching occurs when water temperatures rise and the coral expels microscopic algae, known as zooxanthellae, to survive.
If high temperatures persist, the coral can eventually turn white and die.
This year had already been confirmed as the fifth mass bleaching on the reef in the past eight years.
But this latest survey also found a rapid growing type of coral -- known as acropora -- had suffered the highest rate of death.
This coral is quick to grow, but one of the first to bleach.
'Worst fears'
Lead researcher Mike Emslie told public broadcaster ABC the past summer was "one of the most severe events" across the Great Barrier Reef, with heat stress levels surpassing previous events.
"These are serious impacts. These are serious losses," he said.
WWF-Australia's head of oceans Richard Leck said the initial surveys confirmed his "worst fears".
"The Great Barrier Reef can bounce back but there are limits to its resilience," he said.
"It can't get repeatedly hammered like this. We are fast approaching a tipping point."
Leck added the area surveyed was "relatively small" and feared that when the full report was released next year "similar levels of mortality" would be observed.
He said that it reinforced Australia's need to commit to stronger emission reduction targets of at least 90 percent below 2005 levels by 2035 and move away from fossil fuels.
The country is one of the world's largest gas and coal exporters and has only recently set targets to become carbon neutral.