Romancing the enigmatic desert
Beijing exhibition spotlights artists from Saudi Arabia, showcasing their style of calligraphy with paintings, photographs, installations and videos, Lin Qi reports.
The pieces invite audiences to go on a journey of discovery, setting the tone for an exhibition that highlights the richness, complexity, and vitality of Saudi Arabia's contemporary cultural landscape. On display are paintings, photographs, installations, and video works by 30 artists.
The exhibition, running until Oct 30, is the flagship project of the Museums Commission affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture. Mona Khazindar, chief executive officer of the commission, describes it as both a new perspective on the country and a celebration of cultural exchange.
The event also marks a milestone: 2025 is the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia, observed with initiatives like the China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture.
Art of the Kingdom is a traveling exhibition. It debuted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024, attracting some 26,000 visitors, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In February, the exhibition returned to Riyadh, unveiled at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, before beginning its third leg at the National Museum of China.
