The More Than Meets The Eye exhibition is currently on show in the mirrored Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla
An exhibition of works from private art collections in Saudi Arabia, some of which are being shown to the public for the first time. From paintings and films to installations, the exhibition includes works from the 1950s to the present day that deal with themes such as identity, poetry and home.
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, emphasises the importance of collectors in Saudi Arabia and their role in the art ecosystem.
Fadag travelled around the kingdom and met with collectors to find out the stories behind their collections.
“I was amazed at the many different reasons why people collect art,” she says. “It was really overwhelming.”
Fadag’s vision for the exhibition was to unite the past and present generation 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 artworks in isolation, but in a dialogue,” she explains. “Even if their aesthetics may differ, they all deal with similar themes.”
More than Meets the Eye is part of a series of exhibitions organised as part of a long-term relationship between the Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) and art patrons in Saudi Arabia.
“This exhibition reflects our investment in the long-term relationship between AlUla and collectors and art patrons across Saudi Arabia. AlUla is located in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving art scene and will be a platform for our generation to develop their creative expression while learning about Saudi Arabia’s rich art historical practice,” said Nora al-Dabal, Executive Director of Arts AlUla, in a statement.
The first in the series of exhibitions was the 2022 exhibition What Lies Within from the private collection of Saudi philanthropist and collector Basma al-Sulaiman.
AlUla is not only a historical cultural site, but also the centre 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 Virtual tour in Maraya.
