Art Jameel, an independent organisation that supports artists and creative communities, announces the opening of major solo and group exhibitions at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah’s home for the arts. Ahaad Alamoudi: ‘Moving Mountains’ and ‘Salt-Kissed: Of Vessels That Have Sailed The Red Sea’ (both May 8 – October 26, 2024) are held across the two floors of Hayy Arts, Jeddah’s leading exhibitions space presenting robust, curated, museum-style shows of modern and contemporary art. Together, the exhibitions showcase more than a dozen artists from 13 countries whose works are rooted in Jeddah’s coastal position and its connected geographies through the Red Sea.
Nora Razian, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions, Art Jameel: “We have a mandate at Art Jameel to deepen research in thematics of local and site-specific context. Our curatorial approach and public programmes are rooted in our strategic positions on the coasts of Jeddah and Dubai. We are proud to host Ahaad Alamoudi’s first institutional solo exhibition, here in Jeddah, where she grew up, and strongly believe that her practice reflects and documents the transformations sweeping over her hometown. Additionally, we have a keen interest in talent development via programmes such as the Curatorial Open Call which results in a poetic narrativization of the history of the Red Sea. ‘Salt-Kissed: Of Vessels That Have Sailed The Red Sea’ was thought-up by two brilliant emerging curators from Palestine, Ahmed Al-Aqra and Abed Alrahman Shabaneh, who put together an exhibition that that writes a story of the Red Sea through its many maritime routes, from deep history to the present.”
The first-ever institutional solo exhibition by Saudi artist Ahaad Alamoudi, this showcase explores and expands upon Alamoudi’s deep interest in unpacking our relationships with rapidly changing societies and cultures. Bringing together new works, commissioned by Art Jameel, with existing works, ‘Moving Mountains’ situates Saudi Arabia’s natural and urban landscapes as sites of possibility, punctured by effort and powered by fantasy. Alamoudi’s humorous and hopeful interpretations of familiar tropes and symbols invite visitors to navigate large-scale installations, performances and videos through fluidity in form and meaning.
‘Salt-Kissed’ is the outcome of the inaugural Art Jameel Curatorial Open Call, announced in August 2023 and subsequently awarded through a jury process to upcoming Palestinian curators Ahmed Alaqraa and Abdulrahman Shabaneh.
The curators worked with the Art Jameel team and a group of artists to develop a novel exhibition that engages with themes of the Red Sea – its connected geographies, histories, ecologies, and the movement of people and ideas.
Through a blend of archival materials, new commissions and Art Jameel Collection works, ‘Salt-Kissed’ explores the Red Sea’s relationship with its environment and surrounding communities, tracing ancient and contemporary trade routes, traditional crafts and colonial legacies.
Artists featured in the exhibition include Monira AlQadiri, Ruba Al-Sweel, Suhaib Ayoub, Nour Bishouty, Anna Boghiguian, Shezad Dawood, Marie Grismar, Hasan Hujairi, Nidhi Mahajan & Moad Musbahi, Abdallah Sharw, Huda Tayob and Fatima Uzdenova.
This exhibition was conceived through the inaugural ‘Art Jameel Curatorial Open Call’, a biennial programme awarding early career curators the opportunity to develop an exhibition at Hayy Jameel exploring the Red Sea and its connected geographies, histories and ecologies.
Ahaad Alamoudi: ‘Moving Mountains’ and ‘Salt-Kissed: Of Vessels That Have Sailed The Red Sea’ are on view at Hayy Arts from May 8 to October 26, 2024. The opening preview (May 8, 6:30-9pm) is accompanied by curator-led tours and performances.
