Saudi Arabia’s Visual Arts Commission has announced the inaugural edition of the Art Week Riyadh, an initiative celebrating the Kingdom’s dynamic art scene. Taking place in the Jax District (HQ) from 6 to 13 April 2025, the Art Week Riyadh will include cultural institutions, contemporary art galleries, as well as art and cultural enthusiasts. The main theme of the programme, At The Edge, will feature a series of events that honour tradition and contemporary expression, shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s art landscape.
One of the participating galleries is Lawrie Shabibi, which will present At The Edge, an exhibition featuring a selection of works by pioneering artists — Mounir Fatmi, Dima Srouji, Hamra Abbas, and Shaikha Al Mazrou — whose practices engage with themes of materiality and structure. The exhibition serves as a reflection on the interplay between physical and conceptual systems, inviting viewers to ask the question: “How do we evolve the material world?”.
Mounir Fatmi (b. 1970, Morocco) seamlessly blends themes of modernity and tradition in his work Calligraphy of an Unknown Place, juxtaposing Arabic calligraphy with the chaotic lines of stock market graphs. The artist develops an experimental archaeology that questions the world and the role of authority in a society in crisis. He explores the trinity of language — Language, Architecture, and Machine — highlighting the limitations of communication and reflecting on the obsolescence of these systems. Through technical materials, Fatmi raises questions about the transmission and integration of knowledge and the power of images; he also critiques the illusion of mechanisms that ultimately lead to the collapse of the modern world.
Dima Srouji (b. 1990, Palestine) reinterprets abstract forms through layered histories in her art piece The Rule of Superpositions 2. Her work overlays real surfaces, such as Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, with archaeological features. Using various mediums, including glass, text, and archival elements, she treats each as an evocative object. Srouji also explores themes of identity and globalization through the lens of history.
Hamra Abbas (b. 1976, Pakistan) reimagines spatial perception through her Aerial Studies, drawing inspiration from aerial views of the Karakoram mountain range. Employing the Renaissance-era technique of marble inlay, refined in Mughal India, Abbas blurs the boundary between human craftsmanship and natural masterpieces, creating compositions that oscillate between abstraction and representation.
Shaikha Al Mazrou (b. 1988, UAE) explores the transformation of brittleness into permanence through her sculptural works. Beginning with paper prototypes, she scales her forms into stainless-steel sculptures in collaboration with UAE industrial workshops. Her practice studies materiality, evolving ideas from contemporary artistic movements while engaging deeply with formal elements, from colour theory to geometric abstraction.
About the Art Week Riyadh
The Art Week Riyadh offers a comprehensive perspective on the Kingdom’s art ecosystem. Centred around the theme of honouring heritage while amplifying the voices of contemporary artists, the event serves as an investment in the future and a platform for collaboration. As part of the Ministry of Culture, the Visual Arts Commission leads the development of the nation’s visual arts sector, positioning Saudi Arabia as a key contributor to the global cultural discourse.
About Lawrie Shabibi
Lawrie Shabibi is a contemporary art gallery located in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. The gallery champions emerging and mid-career artists from around the world, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past five years, the gallery has focused on introducing artists from different regions and generations, with special attention to underrepresented voices. It also organises historical exhibitions and collaborates with museums. Through a consistent programme of exhibitions, screenings, talks, publishing catalogues, and participating in international art fairs, Lawrie Shabibi is developing contemporary art in Dubai.
To learn more about At The Edge presented by Lawrie Shabibi, please visit the official web page of the show.
Additionally, you might be interested in exploring the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025.
To stay updated with the latest art news, you can join our Telegram channel.
