The third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale opened on Friday in Riyadh’s vibrant JAX District and will welcome visitors until 2 May, featuring 68 artists from 37 nations alongside more than 25 newly commissioned works exploring movement and memory. Furthermore, the event unfolds near the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif in Diriyah.
Theme Celebrates Arabia’s Legacy of Movement
Curated under the Arabic title “Fil Hal wa al-Tarhal” (In Interludes and Transitions), the biennale examines cycles of arrival and departure that shaped Arabian history. Artistic director Nora Razian explained the theme references trade, pilgrimage, migration and exile as carriers of cultural exchange across generations. Her co-curator Sabih Ahmed added: “We asked not how this place looks to the world, but how the world looks from here.”
Diriyah Biennale Foundation CEO Aya Al-Bakree emphasized the exhibition’s significance during opening ceremonies attended by artists and cultural leaders. She noted this edition marks the foundation’s fifth biennale within five years since its 2020 establishment by Saudi Ministry of Culture. “The biennale reflects the diversity of contemporary artistic practice, bringing together voices from different generations, regions, and disciplines,” Al-Bakree stated confidently.
Deputy Culture Minister Rakan Altouq highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rapid cultural transformation during his address to guests and media representatives. “By organizing biennales, launching artist residency programs, developing museums and offering grants, the kingdom has reshaped the regional cultural map,” Altouq declared proudly. He affirmed these efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a leading hub for creative mobility globally.
Multidisciplinary Experience Expands Cultural Horizons
Visitors encounter installations, sound pieces, performances and architectural experiments produced collaboratively with musicians, filmmakers and writers worldwide. Additionally, the biennale launches “JAX Flavors,” a culinary initiative supporting local chefs and entrepreneurs within the district’s expanding creative ecosystem. Consequently, JAX District solidifies its reputation as a multidisciplinary hub uniting art, design, music and gastronomy seamlessly.
The foundation continues delivering alternating biennales between Riyadh’s contemporary art showcase and Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale annually. This strategic programming broadens public engagement while connecting Saudi heritage with international artistic currents meaningfully. Saudi artists including Shadia Alem, Lulwah Al Homoud, Afra Al Dhaheri and Mohammed Al Ghamdi feature prominently alongside global creators.
Al-Bakree reaffirmed the foundation’s mission to position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of cultural dialogue through ambitious commissioning and exchange programs. The biennale remains open daily, inviting audiences to experience transformative narratives of continuity and change. This edition powerfully demonstrates how the Kingdom bridges tradition with tomorrow’s creative frontiers confidently.
