Saudi Arabian Desert to Host Contemporary Art Event

The Al Ula region of northwestern Saudi Arabia was chosen as the main stage of the event.

The region is home to Al-'Ula, the capital of the ancient Lihyanites (Dedanites) and Madain Saleh, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country.

For the upcoming exhibition 14 large-scale artworks will be installed in the Saudi Arabian desert amidst ancient remains of Nabatean settlement at Madain Saleh (aka Hegra). 

The inaugural edition of Desert X Al Ula will be attended by the Danish collective Superflex, Wael Shawky, eL Seed and Gisela Colon, as well as Saudi Arabian artists Manal Al Dowayan, Zahrah Al Ghambi and Nasser Al Salem.

The artists will create site-specific contemporary artworks that will reflect the local desert cultures and blend with the environmental and historical context.

The event has drawn a lot of criticism though the founders of Desert X state that the exhibition “pledges to reinvigorate, protect and preserve Al Ula as a vibrant, open museum.”

The event will take place from January 31 to March 7.

Last year, Saudi Arabia for the first time opened its doors to the tourists allowing nationals of 49 countries to enter the country for tourism, for stays as long as three months. The country now is looking to offer visitors new experiences to encourage more travellers to consider a trip to Saudi Arabia.

Source