Ithra Showcases Curated Art Collection At Inaugural Art Week Riyadh 2025

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, has announced its role as an Exhibition Partner in the first Art Week Riyadh. This event is organised by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission and will take place from April 6 to 13, 2025. It will be held at key cultural locations in Riyadh, such as JAX District and Al Mousa Center.

Art Week Riyadh aims to celebrate Saudi Arabia's vibrant art scene. It will gather prominent local and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and art enthusiasts under the theme "At The Edge." Ithra will present a curated selection of 15 significant works from its museum collection titled "Landscape and Memory."

The exhibition at JAX District will feature works from the early 1900s to 2022. It showcases a diverse range of artistic practices and cultural expressions through sculptures, paintings, and installations. This display offers a captivating overview of Ithra’s esteemed art collection.

Interplay of Memory and Identity

The exhibition delves into how material memory interacts with transformation and landscapes that shape identity. It questions how history is preserved, reinterpreted, and reimagined through art. Memory is portrayed not just as a mark on the world but as a dynamic force linking us to the past while opening new possibilities for the future.

Featured Artists and Their Works

Among the featured artists are Saudi Arabian artist Mohammed Alfaraj with "Fossils of Knowledge" (2022) and Maha Malluh’s "Oil Candies" (2019). American artist Gregory Mahoney presents three works: "Sea Land" (1991), "Five Gallons/Five Oceans" (1995), and "End of the World" (1993).

South Korean artist Do Ho Suh’s "Screens" (2005) is also included. Saudi photographer Moath Aloufi contributes three photographs: "The Scene," "I Am the One," and "The Family," all from 2019. Italian master Michelangelo Pistoletto’s "Persone in Comunicazione" (2019) is part of the exhibition too.

Lebanese calligraphy artist Joumana Medlej’s work titled "Who Am I?" (2015) will be displayed alongside Saudi eclectic artist Sultan bin Fahad’s piece named after himself from 1440 AH (2016). Palestinian sculptor Abdul Rahman Katanani’s "Tornado" (2020) adds to this diverse collection.

Palestinian artist Hazem Harb presents his work titled "The Place is Mine, Series #3" (2019), while Egyptian painter Moataz Nasr showcases his piece called "Burning" (2019). These artworks highlight Ithra's diverse collection celebrating contemporary art vibrancy.

Farah Abushullaih, Head of Museum at Ithra stated: "Ithra’s participation in Art Week Riyadh is an opportunity to celebrate creative expression and embrace diverse artistic and cultural perspectives. It is an opportunity to share a glimpse of the Ithra Museum and its rich collection of works."

With inputs from SPA