With introductive essays by Venetia Porter, the Middle Eastern expert from the British Museum and Chris Dercon, director of the Tate Modern, this is a heavyweight tome in more ways than one.
Launched during 21,39, a two-month art event that opened in Jeddah last month and again on Thursday on Art Dubai Modern’s terrace, this is perhaps the first publication to document the phenomenal talent from inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia focusing not just on artists but also on the spaces, initiatives and the patrons.
It is the fact that all these aspects have developed in harmony that makes Saudi’s art scene different. Mohammed Hafiz, the co-owner of Jeddah’s Athr Gallery and Raneem Farsi, co-curator of 21,39 spoke about the communal bottom-up effort at the launch in Dubai and explained that even the events themselves are supported by Saudi families, not corporate sponsors.
The fact that it has grown from a clear and passionate love and appreciation for the arts makes what is happening in Saudi all the more compelling. I suggest you get your hands on a copy of this book if possible.