A man visits Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in JAX district, northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
RIYADH, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, Saudi Arabia's first contemporary art biennale, opened to the public on Saturday in Diriyah, a town on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital.
The event, which will run until March 11, features more than 60 artists from around the world, including 27 Saudi artists, 12 Chinese artists, and artists from Europe, Africa, and Latin America, according to the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, which was set up by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in 2020 to organize the event.
People visit Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in JAX district, northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
Aya Al-Bakree, the Foundation's CEO, said she hoped the Biennale will promote international dialogue and provide opportunities for exploration and connection to Saudi Arabia's developing cultural scene and creative communities.
Visitors take photos at Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in JAX district, northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
According to Philip Tinari, director and CEO of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in China, who led the curatorial team for the Biennale's inaugural edition, his team spent more than two years preparing for the event, which features paintings, installations, and performances.
Visitors take photos at Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in JAX district, northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)
The Biennale is divided into six sections: crossing the river, experimental preservation, peripheral thinking, going public, brave new worlds, and concerning the spiritual. Its opening week activities include cross-cultural dialogues, discussions and panels.
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale is Saudi Arabia's largest and most significant international display of contemporary art to date. ■
