A two-month long programme of exhibitions, workshops, studio visits and talks highlighting the narrative of the art scene in Saudi Arabia kicks off today as part of Jeddah Art Week. 21,39, so named after the geographical co-ordinates of the western Saudi city, is the debut initiative of the newly formed Saudi Arts Council that aims to promote art throughout the Kingdom.
It begins with two seminal exhibitions; Past is Prologue will exhibit 26 modern Saudi artists, the most that have ever been exhibited together in one place, in order to present the deep foundations and the history of art in the region and Moallaqat focuses on contemporary Saudi art with work from names such as Manal Aldowayan, Nasser Al-Salem, Jowhara Al-Saud, Ahmed Mater and Faisal Samra.
“The event is about communicating with the public through the language of art,” says Mohammed Hafiz. “We want to engage with the social fabric of the city.” Hafiz, who co-founded Athr Gallery, is also the vice chairman of the arts council. He said they have had a really positive response and support from the whole community including the Ministry of Education who are organising school workshops and the prestigious families of Jeddah of whom 36 have sponsored the event.
“We haven’t experienced any negativity either from any government institutions regarding censorship, which is an issue that everyone tends to bring up when it comes to Saudi Arabia.”
In addition to the primary exhibitions, 21,39 will present a curated retrospective from Safeya Binzagr, a pioneering female artist and there will also be a focus on Jeddah’s old town or Al Balad. The event will feature guided tours through the old city, rich in Hejazi architecture and there will also be a series of public sculptures as well as work from local graffiti artists to spread awareness and knowledge of this art form.
On Thursday, there will be a day long symposium of talks covering Saudi art in a global context, and the role of Saudi art as a major player in the art world. Guest speakers will include the artist Ahmed Mater, Saleh Barakat, gallery owner of?Agial Gallery in Beirut, Myrna Ayad, editor in chief of Canvas Magazine, Chris Dercon, director of Tate Modern Museum, London and Sheikha Hoor Al Qassimi, the president of the Sharjah Art Foundation.
Finally, the launch of a 350-page book charting the progress of the modern art scene in Saudi will be a key part of the opening week. Contemporary Kingdom: The Saudi Art Scene Now, produced by Dubai-based publishing house Canvas Central illustrates the growth of the Saudi art market, the artists, galleries, educational programmes and public institutions, in addition to the patronage system and the rise of a new generation of young collectors.
* For more information on the whole initiative visit www.21-39.com
