عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Riyadh Art Enriches Metro Stations with Artworks

Zaman Jassim’s When the Moon is Full. SPA
Zaman Jassim’s When the Moon is Full. SPA
TT
TT

Riyadh Art Enriches Metro Stations with Artworks

Zaman Jassim’s When the Moon is Full. SPA
Zaman Jassim’s When the Moon is Full. SPA

Riyadh Art, the world’s largest public art program, has unveiled four monumental public artworks with the launch of the Riyadh Metro, transforming key metro stations into cultural landmarks.
At the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station, designed by the internationally acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects, Alexander Calder’s Janey Waney takes center stage. This bold and colorful sculpture exemplifies Calder’s pioneering spirit in kinetic art, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors. Nearby, Robert Indiana’s LOVE (Red Outside Blue Inside), one of the most recognizable public artworks globally, captivates audiences with its vibrant interplay of color and universal themes of connection and hope. Together, these masterpieces transform the daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture, and creativity.
At the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Metro Station, designed by the renowned architectural firm Snøhetta, Ugo Rondinone’s The Sun stands as a striking golden centerpiece, symbolizing energy and renewal. Complementing this is Zaman Jassim’s When the Moon is Full, a reflective and poetic piece inspired by Riyadh’s rich cultural heritage. These artworks, combined with the architectural brilliance of the station, redefine public spaces, blending art with the rhythm of daily life to create a truly unique cultural experience.
“These permanent artworks embody our vision of transforming Riyadh into an open-air gallery that enriches the quality of life and fosters a deeper connection between people and art,” said Architect Khalid Al-Hazani, Executive Director of Riyadh Art. “By collaborating with some of the most creative minds of our time, we’re not just adding art to public spaces—we’re creating cultural landmarks that inspire and engage generations.”
Riyadh Art is an unparalleled cultural infrastructure initiative that reimagines urban spaces, fosters creativity, and enriches lives. Led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), as one of the four initial Mega Projects of Saudi Vision 2030, Riyadh Art champions cultural innovation, drives economic diversification, and positions Riyadh as a global center for contemporary art and culture.
Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has seamlessly integrated art into the urban fabric of Saudi Arabia’s capital, showcasing over 500 artworks by more than 500 local and international artists, hosting more than 6,000 community engagement activities, and engaging over 6 million visitors. As the program continues to expand, the number of artworks and initiatives is set to grow significantly, fostering a sense of community, enriching the city’s identity, and elevating Riyadh’s standing as a vibrant global arts destination.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Red Sea Museum Signs Cooperation Agreement to Support Artisans and Designers

The cooperation agreement aims to support local and regional artisans and designers. SPA
The cooperation agreement aims to support local and regional artisans and designers. SPA
TT
TT

Red Sea Museum Signs Cooperation Agreement to Support Artisans and Designers

The cooperation agreement aims to support local and regional artisans and designers. SPA
The cooperation agreement aims to support local and regional artisans and designers. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission announced the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Red Sea Museum and Ahmed Angawi Studio to launch the "Made in the Red Sea" initiative at the Red Sea Museum in the heart of Historic Jeddah, aiming to support local and regional artisans and designers.

The initiative aims to preserve traditional skills and develop contemporary products inspired by the rich heritage, traditions and the tangible and intangible culture of the Red Sea region, for sale at the museum gift shop.

It builds on the momentum of the Saudi Ministry of Culture's Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative launched to reinforce pride in national identity and support artisans, as one of the goals of the National Culture Strategy.

The partnership includes content development, the delivery of workshops and the selection of participating artists and artisans, in addition to promoting the "Made in the Red Sea" initiative and overseeing specialized workshops in traditional wood designs inspired by the historic Bab Al Bunt building, which now houses the Red Sea Museum. These efforts contribute to a contemporary reinterpretation of its architectural elements.

Culture

Saudi Arabia Participates in Cairo International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Participates in Cairo International Book Fair 2026
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Participates in Cairo International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia Participates in Cairo International Book Fair 2026

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission will lead the Kingdom’s participation in the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair 2026 taking place from January 21 until February 3.

CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Abdullatif Alwasel stated that this participation is an extension of the commission’s ongoing efforts to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural and literary presence at the regional and international levels and to introduce Saudi cultural heritage, while underscoring the Kingdom’s role in leading the global cultural landscape.

He noted that the commission has mobilized its capabilities to support the participation of Saudi publishing houses in book fairs both within and outside the Kingdom, while also working to attract international publishers to participate in Saudi book fairs by building new partnerships and strengthening channels of cultural cooperation.

The Kingdom’s participation in the fair, which is organized by the General Egyptian Book Organization, aims to strengthen cultural relations and knowledge exchange between the Kingdom and Egypt, enhance cooperation in the fields of literature, publishing, and translation, support and promote Saudi publishing houses and literary agencies internationally, and raise awareness of Saudi cultural heritage in global forums.

Culture

Top Prosecutor: Louvre Heist Probe Still Aims to Recover Jewelry

FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
TT
TT

Top Prosecutor: Louvre Heist Probe Still Aims to Recover Jewelry

FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

French investigators remain determined to find the imperial jewels stolen from the Louvre in October, a prosecutor has told AFP.

Police believe they have arrested all four thieves who carried out the brazen October 19 robbery, making off with jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the world-famous museum.

"The interrogations have not produced any new investigative elements," top Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said this week, three months after the broad-daylight heist.

But the case remains a top priority, she underlined.

"Our main objective is still to recover the jewelry," she said.

That Sunday morning in October, thieves parked a mover's truck with an extendable ladder below the Louvre's Apollo Gallery housing the French crown jewels.

Two of the thieves climbed up the ladder, broke a window and used angle grinders to cut glass display booths containing the treasures, while the other two waited below, investigators say.

The four then fled on high-powered motor scooters, dropping a diamond-and-emerald crown in their hurry.

But eight other items of jewelry -- including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise -- remain at large.

Beccuau said investigators were keeping an open mind as to where the loot might be.

"We don't have any signals indicating that the jewelry is likely to have crossed the border," she said, though she added: "Anything is possible."

Detectives benefitted from contacts with "intermediaries in the art world, including internationally" as they pursued their probe.

"They have ways of receiving warning signals about networks of receivers of stolen goods, including abroad," Beccuau said.

As for anyone coming forward to hand over the jewels, that would be considered to be "active repentance, which could be taken into consideration" later during a trial, she said.

A fifth suspect, a 38-year-old woman who is the partner of one of the men, has been charged with being an accomplice but was released under judicial supervision pending a trial.

Investigators still had no idea if someone had ordered the theft.

"We refuse to have any preconceived notions about what might have led the individuals concerned to commit this theft," the prosecutor said.

But she said detectives and investigating magistrates were resolute.

"We haven't said our last word. It will take as long as it takes," she said.