Groundbreaking Exhibition Unveils Future of Art in Riyadh
RIYADH — Prepare to be dazzled as Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the region’s pioneering hub for cutting-edge media arts, unveils its debut exhibition CONTINUUM ’25 in Riyadh on September 13. This groundbreaking showcase will feature works by 11 emerging artists from Saudi Arabia and beyond.
From September 13 to November 15, CONTINUUM ’25 will kick off as the first installment of an annual series dedicated to highlighting experimental art forms grounded in digital, immersive, and AI-driven media.
This exhibition is a testament to the creative outcomes of DAF’s Emerging New Media Artists Programme, a year-long residency program designed to empower young talents with mentorship and state-of-the-art tools.
The lineup of featured artists includes visionaries like Turki AlQahtani and Khaled Makshoush from Saudi Arabia, as well as international talents such as Salma Aly (Egypt), Samia Dzaïr (Algeria), and Aya Abu Ghazaleh (Jordan).
Guided by renowned mentors Anna Ridler and Karen Palmer, these artists have crafted pieces that delve into themes like identity, memory, climate, technology, and displacement.
Visitors can expect to immerse themselves in a diverse range of art forms, including virtual reality, AI-generated art, immersive installations, sound design, and screen-based storytelling.
The title CONTINUUM symbolizes the ever-evolving nature of creative exploration and the dynamic relationship between human and machine, natural and artificial, reality and simulation.
The exhibition’s curatorial design is a reflection of these contrasts, offering a fluid, sensory experience that challenges perceptions and sparks new ideas.
Conceptual works on display will tackle pressing issues such as climate ecologies, ethics in algorithmic systems, and the fragmentation of memory and place, prompting viewers to contemplate the impact of technology on our collective future.
DAF, established under the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, stands as a beacon for nurturing talent, forging global partnerships, and advancing the role of new media art in the Middle East and North Africa region. — SG
