The mirrored Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla is currently hosting the exhibition More Than Meets The Eye .
An exhibition of works from private art collections in Saudi Arabia, some of which are on public display for the first time. From paintings to films to installations, the exhibition includes works from the 1950s to the present day, which deal with themes such as identity, poetry and homeland.
The exhibition features works by pioneering Saudi artists such as Abdulhalim Radwi, Mohammed al-Saleem and Mounirah Mously alongside leading contemporary Saudi artists such as Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono and Dana Awartani.
Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag, the Saudi curator of the exhibition, underlines the importance of collectors in Saudi Arabia and their role in the art ecosystem.
Fadag traveled around the kingdom and met with collectors to explore the stories behind their collections.
“I was amazed at the diverse motivations of people to collect art,” she says. “It was really overwhelming.”
Fadag’s vision for the exhibition was to unite the past and present generations of artists in Saudi Arabia, including those originally from other Arab countries who have made a name for themselves in the Kingdom.
“I didn’t want to present the works of art in isolation, but in a dialogue,” she explains. “Even though their aesthetics may differ, they all deal with similar issues.”
More than Meets the Eye
is part of a series of exhibitions organised as part of the long-term relationship between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the patrons of the arts in Saudi Arabia.
“This exhibition reflects our investment in the long-term relationship between AlUla and collectors and patrons of the arts across Saudi Arabia. Located at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving art scene, AlUla will be a platform for our generation to develop their creative expression while learning about Saudi Arabia’s rich art historical practice,” Nora al-Dabal, Executive Director of Arts AlUla, said in a statement.
The first in the series of exhibitions in 2022 was the exhibition
What Lies Within
from the private collection of the Saudi patron and collector Basma al-Sulaiman.
AlUla is not only a historical cultural site, but also the center of the kingdom’s growing art scene. After Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Vision 2030, the country has been pushing ahead with change at full speed.
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Click here for the virtual tour at the Maraya.
