For the third edition of Noor Riyadh, the largest festival of light and art in the world, renowned and up-and-coming artists from more than 35 countries are convening in the capital of Saudi Arabia, joining over 35 emerging and established Saudi talents. This diverse group features art practitioners boasting various backgrounds that include performance art, architecture, engineering, graphic design and even medicine.
Artworks will be exhibited across five main hubs and additional locations throughout Riyadh City, with the central hub located at theย King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the prestigious business and lifestyle destination in the beating heartย ofย theย capital.
New site-specific commissions will be produced by artists includingย Ayman Yossri Daydban, Aziz Jamal, Erwin Wurm, Jose Dรกvila and Younes Rahmounย in response to this yearโs theme โThe Bright Side of the Desert Moonโ,ย exploring the desert as a place of reconnection where our differences dissipate.ย A plethora of outstanding Saudi and international female artists featuresย Angelika Markul,ย Claudia Comte, Huda Alnasir, Marinella Senatore, Nevin Aladaฤ, Sarah Abu Abdallah, Shilpa Gupta, Sophie Laly and Vivian Caccuri, among others.
The participants represent the following countries:ย Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Statesย andย Venezuela.
The festivalโs accompanying exhibition,ย โRefracted Identities, Shared Futuresโย at JAX District, is curated byย Neville Wakefieldย andย Maya Al Athel.ย Artistsย Abdulmohsen Al Bin Ali,ย Artur Weber, Bashaer Hawsawi, Cecilia Bengolea, Federico Acciardi, Leo Villareal, Shaikha Al Mazrouย and others celebrate light as a dynamic force, akin to a river of time, shaping and reshaping the contours of our human and cultural identities. In a world that is constantly evolving, light serves as a profound metaphor for the fluid nature of who we are and where we come from.
The Garden Of Light, Charles Sandison, DQ, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12, 2022 as part of the Noor Riyadh Festival 2022. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM
Led by world-renowned art practitionerย Jรฉrรดme Sans, curatorsย Pedro Alonzo, Alaa Tarabzouniย andย Fahad Bin Naifย conceived the festival as a journey across various locations transporting visitors from the heart of the city to the doors of the desert throughย five main hubs. In theย King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), a futuristic metropolis within the capital, immersive and interactive works transform the business destination into a night-time hub of creativity. Once an industrial area in Ad-Diriyah and now the ultimate artistic nexus, theย JAX Districtย features a route spanning indoor and outdoor spaces, giving visitors an opportunity to experience an exhibition without borders.
Installation Johanna Grawunder, , in Jax in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 3, 2022, as part of the 2022 Noor Riyadh Festival. Photo by Pauline Gouablin/ABACAPRESS.COM
Family oriented and interactive,ย Salam Parkย is one of Riyadhโs urban oases, where installations and projections offer families, friends and wanderers a chance to share and indulge in moments of playfulness and calm. Inย Wadi Namar, the visitor is invited to stroll alongside the cliffs and the waterโs edge, admiring spectacular artworks reminiscent of voyages and adventures. Finally, atย Wadi Hanifaย artworks become portals to other worlds, transporting the audience to parallel universes and temporalities. During the festival the five hubs will host tours, creative experiences, family activities, workshops, talks and lectures.
Khaled Al-Hazani, Executive Director of the Riyadh Art Program, said: โRiyadh's evolution into a dynamic global metropolis is tied to our countryโs rich artistic tapestry. Riyadh Art and the Noor Riyadh festival enhance livability in Saudi Arabiaโs capital city by celebrating local and international creativity and bringing art to the people. From families to budding artists, students to established professionals, Noor Riyadh offers a platform for artistic exchange, unites residents and visitors in creative expression, and weaves an intricate cultural narrative that resonates globally, bridging communities and transcending boundaries."
Installation of artwork Amplexus by artist Grimanesa Amoros in DQ in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on October 27, 2022 as part of the Noor Riyadh Festival 2022. Photo by Ammar Abd Rabbo/ABACAPRESS.COM
Committed to developing opportunities for the local community, Noor Riyadh 2023 will feature more than 40 talks, over 100 workshops and family activities, over 1,000 guided tours, while deeply engaging with 450 schools and having 60 university ambassadors as well as 43 apprentices join the festival teams. Through this, Noor Riyadh not only drives cultural transformation and community involvement but also contributes to making Riyadh one of the world's most livable cities, revitalizing public spaces to unite communities.
Created to foster local artistic talent and ignite Saudi Arabia's cultural economy, Noor Riyadh is part of Riyadh Art, one of the largest public art initiatives in the world. The ambition of Riyadh Art is to transform the Saudi capital into an awe-inspiring "gallery without walls", showcasing over 1,000 public artworks dispersed citywide through 10 programs and two annual events.
Across its editions, Noor Riyadh has created unique moments of joy throughout the city, granting millions the chance to appreciate exceptional public light artworks and admire Riyadh in a new light. Inย 2022, Noor Riyadh marked several milestones, notably drawing inย 2.8 millionย attendees and winningย six Guinness World Records, one of which being the largest celebration of light art in the world.
