AlUla:
A Tapestry
of Creativity
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#ATapestryofCreativity
#ArtsAlUla
#ExperienceAlUla
#Monaco
#ContemporaryPhotography
#Exhibition
Participating Artists: Moath Alofi – Huda Beydoun – Catherine Gfeller – M’hammed Kilito – Hayat Osamah – Prince Michel de Yougoslavie.
AlUla, a desert region of north-western Saudi Arabia, historically a site of ancient Arabian civilisations and at the core of the Incense Road trade and cultural route, is now re-emerging as a global arts hub. AlUla: A Tapestry of Creativity is a contemporary photography exhibition that serves as a tapestry, weaving together the various threads of the creative spirit of the region, its vibrant culture, rich history, and awe-inspiring landscapes. The exhibition brings together a group of Saudi Arabian and international arti-sts who visited AlUla independently or as part of Arts AlUla residency and exhibition programmes. Their work responds to the captivating landscapes and heritage, from the extraordinary rock formations and lush oasis to the spectacular architecture, with a range of photographic techniques. Some photographers attempt to capture the vast spaces with wide, static views, while others explore the detail, textures, personalities and colours of histo-rical and contemporary buildings. The artists chosen to be part of this exhi-bition have engaged with local communities and residents, including farmers, artisans and shopkeepers, as well as the scientists and experts who are working with locals to develop this extraordinary destination. AlUla: A Tapestry of Creativity aims to evoke the layered beauty of region where cultural heritage, tradition and modernity coexist in harmony.
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km2, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of more than 100 well preserved tombs with elaborate facades cut out of the sand-stone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after conquering the Nabataeans in 106 CE.In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to fascinating historical and archaeolo-gical sites such as: Ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kin-gdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient rock art sites and inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah; Old Town, a labyrinth of more than 900 mud-brick homes developed from at least the 12th century, and Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.AlJadidah Village, next to AlUla Old Town, is now emerging as a vibrant arts hub, with public art, an art and design centre, artist residencies and plans for a new contemporary art museum.
Basma
Harasani
Exhibition Curator
@bhaconsultancy
@basmaharasani
Basma Harasani is a Saudi Curator and Art Advisor. She is the Founder and Creative Director of BHAC. Basma started her career in 2015 at Edge of Arabia in London, where she began to pave her way into the contemporary art space. She later moved on to work at ATHR gallery in Jeddah, where she wore many hats including, Curator, Artist Liaison and Sales Representative.Basma founded BHAC, Basma Harasani Art Consultancy, in 2020. Her focus shifted to Acquisitions and Collection Management, Conceptual Strategy Development, and Curation. Her work highlights Middle Eastern Contemporary artists, specifically local artists in the Kingdom. Her focus is on bridging the gap between the local and international contemporary art ecosystem while celebrating the unique heritage of the Middle Eastern Contemporary Landscape. Drawing on a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. This educational background, and her previous experience working in galleries in Saudi Arabia and the UK, allow her to provide advice from various disciplines.
Moath
Alofi
@moathalofi
Moath Alofi is a multi-talented artist, researcher, and explorer. He is also the founder of the artistic studio Al-Mthba and the co-founder of Erth Team, a production group specializing in safari trips, aerial photography, and travel documentation. His focus revolves around capturing cultural artifacts, heritage, and hidden treasures within Madinah. Over time, his exploration has expanded to encompass the greater Madinah Region, capturing its barren landscapes and urbanized beauty. Alofi expresses a keen interest in further expanding his artistic explorations to encompass the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Huda
Beydoun
@hudabeydoun
Huda Beydoun’s career as a visual artist began in 2010, where she initially focused on painting and working with mixed media and photography. Now based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Beydoun has cemented her place as an artist, creative director, and fashion photographer. She has also cultivated a distinctive and influential presence in the local art scene.
Catherine
Gfeller
@catherinegfeller
Catherine Gfeller is a Franco-Swiss artist renowned for her photography work. In 1995, she had the opportunity to research and work in New York City where she became fascinated with the urban environment and transformed city scenes into what she calls ‘Urban Friezes’. The artist`s fascination with AlUla was born from a visit to the region in March 2023. Catherine Gfeller`s work highlights the movement of the new convergence towards AlUla and invites dialogue with the spirit of the place.
M'hammed
KilitoNé
@mhammed_kilito
M`hammed Kilito, born in 1981 in Lviv, is a renowned documentary photographer and National Geographic Explorer currently residing in Casablanca. Kilito`s exceptional talent and dedication have earned him several accolades and grants. His captivating photographs have also been showcased in renowned international festivals and venues including the Leica Ernst Leitz Museum in Germany, Tate Modern in the UK and Cortona on the Move AlUla in 2022.
Hayat
Osamah
@hayatosamah
In 2014, Osamah`s artistic vision started to take shape as she focused on capturing diversity, using Film Photography as her preferred medium. Throughout her career, Hayat has collaborated with prestigious publications such as Vogue, Vogue Arabia, and GQ Middle East, and also worked on the first Farfetch Middle East Campaign. With her dedication and passion for fashion photography, Osamah has managed to establish herself as an influential figure in the industry while making a significant impact on the artistic landscape in Saudi Arabia.
Prince Michel de Yougoslavie
@princemicheldeyougoslavie
In 2009, Prince Michel discovered his passion for photography and began his artistic journey. His extensive travels have played a crucial role in honing his keen sense of observation, which he applies to his photography. His photographs have been exhibited internationally, with notable showcases including in 2020, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, in 2022 Seoul, Korea, Dongdaemun Design Plaza make him special guest of The Photo Artists Society of Korea, the Kiaf-Frieze Art Fair Seoul, the 2nd Global Art Fair in Singapore, and the Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval in Portugal. Through his fine observation of life, Prince Michel’s photographs offer a sophisticated and private vision of the world.
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