Diriyah Art Futures Unveils Summer Program Featuring Talks And Workshops On New Media Art

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) is hosting a series of activities in June and July, focusing on New Media Arts. Visitors can engage with interactive talks, workshops, and masterclasses led by artists from various regions. These events are part of the ongoing exhibition, Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World, which examines the development of New Media practices in the region.

The Maknana exhibition features over 70 artworks by more than 40 artists. It highlights how Arab artists have interacted with technology through themes like Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch. The program offers opportunities for artists and enthusiasts to explore new technologies and deepen their understanding of New Media Art.

On June 20-21, a masterclass titled "Ready-Made Dreams – Immersive Narratives" will take place. Participants will learn to use archival materials creatively to craft immersive stories. This hands-on session involves exercises with video, photography, text, and animation.

A workshop on July 5 called "Motion Design for Film and Media" will delve into motion design's history and impact. Attendees will analyze examples and create their title design projects. By the end, they will understand how motion design influences media and gain skills to apply it creatively.

On July 3, a dialogue session titled "Talk and Screening: Cartographies of a Future" will explore digital tools' impact on photography perception. ScanLAB Projects uses 3D scanning to push traditional photography boundaries, offering new ways to capture and reflect on the world. Two short films will be screened after this session.

Interactive Learning Experiences

The program includes a masterclass on July 4-5 called "Memory in Three Dimensions." It focuses on 3D scanning technology's intersection with human memory. Participants will engage in practical demonstrations to rethink personal archives in the digital age.

A workshop titled "Pixel by Pixel: Introduction to Pixel Art" is scheduled for July 18. It covers pixel art's history from early video games to modern digital art. Participants will learn techniques and create pixel artwork during a guided session.

Engaging Young Minds

A kids' workshop named "Art Bot" also takes place on July 18. Children will build drawing robots using simple motors and everyday materials. This activity encourages creativity by blending play with invention as kids create unique artworks.

On July 19, a masterclass titled "Material as a Narrative Tool" invites participants to explore storytelling through materiality. They will experiment with traditional and unconventional materials to create conceptual artworks that respond to social transformations.

Cultural Dialogues

A book symposium titled "Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World" is set for July 12. This event marks the launch of an edited volume exploring New Media Art narratives from the Arab world.

The session "Traces of Change: Processing Reality Through Art" occurs on July 17. Additionally, a kids' workshop called "Sound Sculptors" on July 19 transforms everyday materials into sound sculptures that respond to touch.

The DAF program provides diverse learning experiences through its workshops and masterclasses. These events cater to different interests while promoting creative engagement with new technologies in art across various age groups.

With inputs from SPA