The Contemporary Art Museum in AlUla, in collaboration with Centre Pompidou, will present Arduna from February 1 to April 15, 2026, as part of the fifth edition of the AlUla Arts Festival. Organized by Arts AlUla with the support of the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA), the exhibition marks a major milestone in the lead-up to the museum’s official opening.
AlUla’s Heritage
Arduna offers an early glimpse into the artistic direction of the Contemporary Art Museum in AlUla, envisioned as a global institution inspired by the region’s unique landscape and cultural legacy. Additionally, the exhibition draws on works from the Royal Commission for AlUla’s growing collection alongside significant pieces from the Musée National d’Art Moderne at Centre Pompidou. It is curated by Candida Pestana, with associate curators Ftoon AlThaedi, Anna Hiddleston, and Noémie Fillon.
Nature, Gardens, Human Connection to Land
Inspired by AlUla’s historical role as a fertile oasis along ancient Incense Trade Routes, the exhibition takes the concept of the garden as its central metaphor. Through six thematic chapters, Arduna explores real and imagined landscapes—ranging from cultivated gardens to vast deserts and cosmic reflections—examining humanity’s evolving relationship with nature. The exhibition also addresses pressing global issues such as climate change, urban expansion, human displacement, and the Anthropocene era.
Global Artists, Cultural Dialogue
Featuring more than 80 artworks across multiple disciplines, Arduna brings together modern masters including Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Mitchell, and David Hockney, alongside leading contemporary artists such as Manal AlDowayan, Ayman Zedani, Imran Qureshi, Samia Halaby, Etel Adnan, and others from Saudi Arabia, the region, and beyond. The exhibition also includes newly commissioned works by Ayman Zedani and Tarek Atoui, developed through the AlUla Artists Residency Program, highlighting the museum’s commitment to artistic innovation, community engagement, and cross-cultural exchange.
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