Desert X AIUIa 2024 Unveils an Art Oasis in the Sands

In the quiet solitude of the desert in Saudi Arabia, the AlUla Arts Festival is back – echoing through the vastness, and creating a symphony of inspiration for those who listen. Running from February 9 to March 23, 2024, the Desert X AlUla 2024, which is part of the AlUla Art exhibition invited visitors to immerse themselves in a dynamic exhibition of contemporary visual and public art, design, artist residencies, and workshops spread across the ancient city.

A major highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival is the Desert X AlUla 2024, which marks the highly anticipated return of the international open-air art exhibition for its third edition, running from February 9 to March 23, 2024, under the theme of ‘In the Presence Of Absence’, curated by Maya El Khalil and Marcello Dantas, under the artistic direction of Raneem Farsi and Neville Wakefield. The exhibition transforms AlUla’s desert landscape into a platform for visionary contemporary artworks, showcasing 15 newly commissioned pieces by both Saudi and international artists. Discover Desert X AlUla’s art amidst Wadi AlFann’s desert and the captivating backdrop of Harrat Uwayrid. The exhibition also graces AlManshiyah Plaza, home to the preserved AlUla Railway Station, revealing the historical and cultural richness of this remarkable region.

Under the theme of In the Presence of Absence, Desert X AlUla 2024 asks ‘what cannot be seen?’ Often dismissed as spaces of emptiness, deserts are rendered mute, static, but there is much more than meets the eye. Artists taking part in Desert X AlUla 2024 were invited to explore ideas of the unseen and the inexpressible. The exhibition is curated by Maya El Khalil and Marcello Dantas. El Khalil is a renowned art advisor and curator with a focus on the MENA region. Dantas is an award-winning curator known for innovative interdisciplinary practices linking science, history, technology to create engaging and
participatory exhibition experiences.

“The region of AlUla is monumental. Formed of inconceivable spans of time and space, the urge is to meet it with imitations of similar size and impact. But the reality is, human efforts struggle to match the grandeur sculpted here across eons. We challenged the artists to adjust their perspective to encounter the unseen aspects of the place with reverence, attuning to the forces, rhythms and processes that shape the landscape in imperceptible ways,” says El Khalil of the curatorial process.
“Desert X AlUla invites artists to create original works with a unique canvas on an unprecedented scale. We tasked these artists with the mission of uncovering traces that transcend the limits of our sight, blurring the line between what we see and what we truly perceive, in the presence of absence,” adds Dantas.

We pick eight of the 15 installations that now find space in the vasat desert speaking to the sands as they try to add or decipher the mystery of the sands.

Aseel AlYaqoub’s “Weird Life”                                                                                                                     “An Ode to Desert Varnish” draws inspiration from the natural occurrence of ‘desert varnish,’ a phenomenon found in landscapes such as AlUla’s. Transforming into a radiant veneer with hues of yellow, orange, red, and black, this artwork pays homage to the enigmatic desert varnish that has captivated scientists for centuries.

Rand Abdul Jabbar’s “Where Myths Are Born of Mud and Desire”

Discover Rand Abdul Jabbar’s “Where Myths Are Born of Mud and Desire” in a mountain valley alcove. Through five sculptural forms, the installation weaves the enchanting story of Venus, immersing visitors in ancient perspectives and ever-shifting connections to the celestial realm. Each piece invites a deep dive into its captivating narrative, urging visitors to explore and engage.

Faisal Samra’s “The Dot”

In “The Dot,” Faisal Samra unveils Wadi AlFann’s origin in an ancient crack, portraying the subtle forces shaping grandeur over epochs. Symbolizing the illusion of time, a line composed of rock fragments serves as a poignant testament to the enduring yet delicate nature of the landscape’s transformation.

Kader Attia’s “Whistleblower”

This sculpture features sculptures adorned with the necks of glass bottles that emit haunting whistles when caressed by the wind. This eerie sound prompts viewers to contemplate the shared responsibility we bear for the well-being of our planet, creating a poignant and reflective experience within the exhibition.

Giuseppe Penone’s “Metamorphosis”

In “The Logic of the Vegetal – Metamorphosis,” Giuseppe Penone delves into the cyclical essence of life. Fossilized tree trunks, suspended between living organism and mineral state, beckon visitors to ponder the intricate transformations that unfold over time, creating a though-provoking space within the exhibition.

Caline Aoun’s “The Desert has No Surface”

In “The Desert Has No Surface” by Caline Aoun, stones from Harrat al Sham’s basalt plateau, polished on one side, take center stage. Sunlight plays a crucial role, activating the work through refracted rays that produce shimmering moments. These reflections symbolize the impermanence of the desert landscape and the formidable natural forces that shaped it. Aoun’s art invites contemplation on the interplay between light, geology, and time, creating a dynamic exploration of the ever-changing essence of the desert.

Rana Haddad and Pascal Hachem’s Reveries

Rana Haddad and Pascal Hachem’s installation, named Reveries, pays homage to the traditional crafts of the region by crafting a sanctuary from rammed earth jars. Each jar in the tower features intricate geometric cuts, fostering a play of shifting light and nature that continuously reveals evolving patterns within the installation.

Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi’s “When Earth Began to Look at Itself”

In “Invisible Possibilities: When the Earth Began to Look at Itself,” Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi transform the landscape into a self-reflective composition. Utilizing diverse viewpoints and approaches, their work seeks to redefine viewers’ perceptions of the site’s ecological evolution and its physical geographies, making one think of the ever-changing relationship between nature and human observation.