AlUla: a place of unique artistic inspiration

The Orbis et Tertius exhibition, organized at the Galerie Joseph in Paris

PARIS: Highlighting the richness of artistic creation inspired by AlUla, in addition to the archaeological richness of this vast desert area dotted with oases in northwest Saudi Arabia, is one of the stated objectives of the French agency Afalula, responsible for the development of this region.
Considered the largest archaeological excavation site in the world, the AlUla region inspires reverie and imagination, with its almost lunar-like geographical appearance, its expanses of sand, its rocky terrain, and its palette of colors.
For nearly three years, Afalula and the Saudi Royal Commission have developed an artist-in-residence program that has allowed several dozen Western and Middle Eastern artists to reside on the site, mingle with the local population, and immerse themselves in the uniqueness of the place in order to express it through artistic creations.

The Orbis and Tertius exhibition, organized at the Galerie Joseph in Paris, presents, for the first time to the French public, the works of twenty contemporary artists who participated in the artist residency program.
Spanning nearly 1,200 square meters, the exhibition includes 43 artistic works, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and photos and videos, centered around themes such as “the storytelling of the world” and “the ineffable boundary between fiction and reality.”
The works bear the signatures of “young but established” artists of varying degrees of renown, according to Sophie Makariou, heritage curator at Afalula, in an interview with Arab News in French.
They are created in close connection with the very specific location of AlUla, while taking into account the site’s history and its geological and human dimensions, Makariou adds.
“We are there to connect them with a whole range of specialists, but also with the local population,” and “we provide them with everything they need to support their work.”
The end result is captivating, to say the least, with works imbued with a mystical serenity, such as the fresco reproducing the rock relief of AlUla by Tunisian artist Aïcha Snoussi, or the installation by American artist Sabine Mirlesse, which evokes mythology and the divinatory arts.

The installation by Syrian artist Talin Hazbar explores the potential of natural materials, notably mud bricks, while Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla depicts figures in fantastical environments and situations evoking struggles and conflicts.
The duo of French artists Virgile Ittah and Japanese artist Kai Yoda draw on references such as cave paintings and pigment painting techniques, inviting the public on a journey through memory.
For his part, Saudi artist Mohamed Alfaraj has chosen to create works that are more playful than empirical, approaching his art as a form of everyday entertainment.
This exhibition follows the one organized as part of Paris Design Week last September, which showcased the urban works of three designers in residence in AlUla.

Regarding the destination of these creations, Makariou indicates that several museum projects are in development, including a contemporary art museum to be located in AlUla. He did not provide further details at this time, and that some works are being acquired by the Royal Commission or international galleries.