Comments on: Edge of Arabia

By: Saudi Art comes to Venice « Saudi Jeans

Saudi Art comes to Venice « Saudi Jeans — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:05:22 +0000

[...] June 6, 2009 · No Comments Remember Edge of Arabia? The Saudi contemporary arts pioneering exhibition that took place in London last year is going to [...]

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:28:38 +0000

Hisham, I’m excited about the Culture Rocks project, and I have registered on their website as a volunteer few months ago. I’m glad to see Snohetta paying attention to Saudi talents. It will be good to see our artists involved in such a promising project. All the best!

By: Hisham Malaika

Hisham Malaika — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:19:11 +0000

First of all I’d like to say what a wonderful blog this is and congratulate you Ahmed for your articulate and intelligent writing. IMO it displays a subtlety and maturity I find remarkable for a university student!

I’m writing to say I’m very excited about Edge of Arabia and also very proud. I’m currently collaborating with the reknowned Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta in designing a major cultural center being built by Saudi Aramco as a gift to the community in celebration of its 75th birthday this year.

The project includes a 1000 sea Auditorium, a 345 seat cinema, an art museum and exhibition hall (designed to the most stringent international standards for museums allowing rare and valuable artwork to be borrowed from around the world), a children’s learning center and last, but not least. a library.

The reason Edge of Arabia is so pertinent for me is recently myself and the Snohetta team were discussing the key importance of engging talented and sophisticated Saudi artists to contribute arttistically to the overall “look and feel” of the project but were at a loss in finding the right artists ….. and then we found Edge of Arabia! :-)

I’ve already seen the Brunei Gallery’s brochure for the exhibition illustrating snippets of work of the highlighted artists (including Reem Al Faisal above … hello Reem!) … it was one of those rare moments I’vebeen truly proud to be Saudi.

I strongly recommend everybody (especially Saudi artists and intellectuals) check out the web page for the project I’m working on as I’m sure you’ll find it as fresh a breath of air as I have. The link is www dot culturerocks dot com

By: Aafke

Aafke — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:48:43 +0000

I hope to be visiting the exhibition too, and will post on it, outside recognition!

By: HishMaj

HishMaj — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:54:38 +0000

That is very true on what you said that the country doesnt recognize its own talents.

good job Reem, for what you all are doing, though i havent visited the exhibition yet. inshallah next month.

By: Reem Al Faisal

Reem Al Faisal — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:02:53 +0000

Inside the country we do but we don’t get much response. The sad thing is we are not recognized by our own until the outside recognize us and even then it an up hill climb. Also there isn’t a true thought out analysis of art in the Arab world we either follow the West or get stuck in copying the old we have not yet developed a unique Islamic art that is contemporary and based on Islamic philosophy in art. I try to explain that to Muslims as well as Westerners.
R

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:27:22 +0000

Reem, I’m glad to see you and other Saudi artists get a chance to showcase your talents in the international arena, and hope to see you soon do something similar in different cities inside the country.

By: Reem Al Faisal

Reem Al Faisal — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:46:48 +0000

I’m happy to see that young Saudi’s follow the exhibits of their artits. As an artist exhibiting in Edge of Arabia I’m encouraged to see that Saudis follow the art movement.

By: N. Alrajhi

N. Alrajhi — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:54:39 +0000

Something I am very interested in. Support is important for Saudi artist.

By: heraish

heraish — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:42:49 +0000

Teams of saudi youth should be sent abroad for dawah work.