Diriyah Biennale Foundation Announces Second Edition of IAB in Jeddah
Jeddah, The Gulf Observer: The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has officially unveiled the much-anticipated second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale (IAB), scheduled to captivate audiences in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January to May 2025. This landmark event is dedicated to showcasing the rich and diverse arts of Islamic civilization, spanning both historical and contemporary expressions, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the continuum of Islamic artistry.
Leading the curatorial team for the second edition of the IAB are renowned Artistic Directors: Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam. Saudi artist Muhannad Shono has been appointed as the Contemporary Art Curator. Together, they will curate a collection featuring contemporary artworks, historical artifacts, and new commissions, offering visitors a comprehensive and immersive experience.
The Biennale will unfold within the iconic Western Hajj Terminal at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, a location of great significance as the gateway to the sacred Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Makkah. To complement this spiritual connection, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation has launched the AlMusalla Prize, an international architecture competition inviting architects to design a prayer space (musalla). This space will be inaugurated alongside the Biennale, offering a serene area for prayer and reflection.
Promising to be more expansive than its predecessor, the second edition of the IAB will cover an extensive area of 110,000 square meters, with 12,000 square meters dedicated solely to exhibition space. The Biennale will continue to explore its themes through the juxtaposition of historical artifacts and contemporary art, including site-specific installations that engage with the venue’s unique architecture.
Highlighting the return of AlMadar, a forum fostering collaboration among institutions with significant Islamic art collections, the IAB aims to create a collective, themed exhibition. AlMadar, meaning “the orbit” in Arabic, encourages dialogue and collaboration among institutions globally, celebrating the richness and diversity of Islamic culture. A dedicated gallery within AlMadar, named Homage, will pay tribute to the patronage behind significant collections of Islamic art today.
Two special pavilions, Makkah and Madinah, will focus on the histories of these holy sites, deepening the connection between art, culture, and spirituality.
Emphasizing architecture as an expression of Islamic culture, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation is launching the AlMusalla Prize, inviting architects to design a sustainable and versatile musalla.
Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, established in 2020 to promote creative expression and appreciation for culture and the arts in Saudi Arabia, the IAB is set to be a significant cultural event on both national and international stages. This celebration of Islamic art and culture aims to forge lasting connections between ancient traditions and contemporary expressions, providing a unique and impactful experience for visitors from around the world.
