The Hajj Terminal in Jeddah is set to host the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, which will take place from Jan. 25 to May 25. The event is expected to provide an opportunity to experience and celebrate Islamic art through creativity, emotion, and intellectual exploration.
Building on the success of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023, which was themed “Awwal Bait” or “First House,” the 2024 edition carries the title “And All That Is In-Between.” The biennale will feature the participation of over 30 institutions from around the globe, including countries such as Saudi Arabia, France, Egypt, Indonesia, the UK, and the US.
The exhibition will include more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, some sourced from the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. These pieces have been generously loaned by prestigious museums, including the Louvre in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Additionally, more than 20 artists and collectives, including Libyan artist Nour Jaouda, will present newly commissioned works.
Statements from Key Figures:
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan:
“Building on the remarkable success of the inaugural edition, the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale comes with greater ambition, expanded partnerships, and a diverse selection of artistic and cultural institutions, patrons, as well as artists from Saudi Arabia and countries that have rich Islamic culture and traditions,” Prince Badr said.
Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation:
“The event is growing through its expert curatorial leadership, and in the participation of world-leading institutions and artists.”
This year’s curatorial team includes Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Saudi artist Muhannad Shono leading the contemporary art curation. Featured highlights will include exhibitions on celestial navigation, Islamic gardens, and a design competition for a new prayer space, which will be constructed on-site based on the winning design.
A noteworthy addition to this year’s biennale is the participation of the Vatican Library, which will present works from its collection in an exhibit titled “The Art of Numbers” at the Al-Madar section of the biennale. Angelo Vincenzo Zani, the Vatican Library’s archivist and librarian, remarked on the importance of the collaboration: “The esteemed collaboration between the library and the biennale offers a tangible opportunity for fostering fraternity through universal symbols, which serve as powerful tools for understanding and connection, promoting dialogue and cooperation among diverse cultures.”
The Vatican Library’s prefect, Reverend Don Mauro Mantovani, emphasized the rarity and value of the works on display: “Since the dawn of civilization, numbers, from the simplest contemplation of quantities and relationships among entities to the most intricate mathematical systems and cutting-edge digital technologies, have been a constant companion to human history, forging connections and building bridges between peoples, cultures, societies, as well as philosophical and religious perspectives.”
The 2024 Islamic Arts Biennale promises to bridge the past, present, and future, celebrating the vast range of artistic expressions within Islamic culture.
Reported by: Arab News
