More than 40 Arab artists to explore regional dialogue through digital expression

Diriyah Art Futures has announced a new exhibition featuring artists who use technology as their medium for creative expression. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 13 April 2025
Follow

More than 40 Arab artists to explore regional dialogue through digital expression

  • Exhibition will be structured across four themes, Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch, that trace recurring artistic concerns and gestures

RIYADH: Diriyah Art Futures has announced a new exhibition featuring artists who use technology as their medium for creative expression, bringing together works by more than 40 artists from the MENA region.

“Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art,” co-curated by artists Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, will run from April 21 to July 19, 2025, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh.

The exhibition will feature Saudi artists Ahmed Mater, known for his multidisciplinary artworks reflecting Arab culture, contemporary artist Muhannad Shono, and independent artist ARC (Abdullah Rashed), whose practices reflect the Kingdom’s dynamic and evolving relationship with new media.

Also on display will be work from Egyptian digital artists VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr), Abdel Hadi El Gazzar, Palestinian artists Emily Jacir, Mona Hatoum and Walid Raad, Lebanese artist Akram Zaatari, visionary artist Hassan Meer, Moroccan-French artist Hicham Berrada, and Emirati photographer Farah Al-Qasimi.

The exhibition will be structured across four themes, Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch, that trace recurring artistic concerns and gestures across different generations, geographies, and technological paradigms.

Highlighting a dynamic constellation of artistic practices, Maknana includes rare archival works, recent digital experiments, and new commissions from artists working in the region as well as the Arab diaspora.

Their works engage with urgent sociopolitical contexts, from networked resistance and machine logic to memory preservation, speculative ecologies, and glitch aesthetics.

The Arabic term “maknana,” translated as automation, inspires the exhibition’s central inquiry: how Arab artists have navigated, repurposed, and challenged technologies to shape their own creative vocabularies.

In tandem with the exhibition, DAF will present a public program of talks, performances, screenings and workshops, expanding on the themes of maknana and offering visitors direct engagement with artists and thought leaders in the field of new media art.

Developed by the Saudi Museums Commission in partnership with Diriyah Co., DAF contributes to the global new media and digital art landscape by integrating regional voices and pioneering practices in art, technology and innovation.


Saudi authorities crack down on unauthorized Hajj attempts

The ministry called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transport and for fines of up to SR20,000 for those at
Updated 9 sec ago
Follow

Saudi authorities crack down on unauthorized Hajj attempts

  • Security forces arrest 13 for transporting 57 pilgrims to Makkah

RIYADH: The Ministry of Interior is continuing its efforts to prevent individuals without Hajj permits from entering or staying in Makkah and the holy sites, warning that violators and facilitators will be arrested and penalized. 

The Hajj Security Forces at Makkah’s entrances arrested five residents and seven citizens for transporting 35 individuals without permits to perform Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The ministry issued administrative decisions through seasonal committees against the transporters, accomplices, and those transported. 

Penalties include imprisonment, fines up to SR100,000 ($26,600), public naming of violators, deportation of residents, and a 10-year ban from re-entering Saudi Arabia after their sentences. 

The ministry also called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transport and for fines of up to SR20,000 for those attempting Hajj without a permit.

In a separate incident, an Indian resident was arrested for transporting 22 visa-holding expatriates without Hajj permits, the SPA reported on Wednesday. 

The residents were referred to the authorities and are likely to be charged and penalized.

The ministry urged all citizens and residents to comply with Hajj regulations to ensure the safety of pilgrims. It warned that performing or attempting Hajj without a permit from April 29 to June 10 is prohibited. 

The ministry has encouraged the public to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 elsewhere in the Kingdom.

Earlier this week, the Hajj Security Forces arrested 20 residents and 17 citizens for transporting 121 individuals without permits to perform Hajj.


Saudi program to train rural women in leathercraft

Updated 21 May 2025
Follow

Saudi program to train rural women in leathercraft

RIYADH: The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, has launched its first vocational empowerment training in leather industries for rural women in Al-Kharj governorate.

The program aims to promote entrepreneurship and support the national economy in line with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It provides rural women with practical skills in leather manufacturing to help develop their small businesses and improve the marketing of their products.

Majed Al-Buraikan, Saudi Reef assistant secretary-general for media and communication, said 15 rural women are participating in the training, which covers value-added leather production, design, product diversification, quality control, and business management.

The program includes training in business planning, cost management, marketing, and branding to help participants establish viable ventures, according to SPA.

Recently, the UN World Tourism Organization recognized Saudi Reef’s role in supporting sustainable development through its link with rural tourism.

Basmah Al-Mayman, UNWTO Middle East director, in a letter to Saudi Reef Secretary-General Ghassan Bakri commended the program for organizing rural tourism events in various regions of the Kingdom.

UNWTO expressed interest in collaborating with Saudi Reef on initiatives focused on sustainable community development and rural tourism.


Saudi Arabia to establish 7 new bee breeding stations

Updated 21 May 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia to establish 7 new bee breeding stations

RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced the establishment of seven queen bee breeding and nucleus colony production stations in regions selected for their suitability: Jazan, Asir, Madinah, Makkah, Hail, Tabuk, and Najran.

Construction is expected to be completed this year, with operations beginning in 2026. The facilities will add to the four existing stations in Abha, Baha, Qassim, and Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry said the projects will aim to preserve and strengthen the local bee strain and reduce reliance on imported colonies, as the Kingdom currently imports about 1.3 million nucleus colonies annually.

The stations will implement programs, including training in queen rearing and artificial insemination, along with promoting practical breeding techniques.

The initiative also includes guidance on advanced beekeeping methods and measures to limit the spread of diseases and pests associated with imported bees. Research will be conducted to support the maintenance and development of local strains.

The ministry said that the projects involve selective breeding based on research and may be offered for investment through beekeepers’ cooperatives or the private sector. Efforts will also be made to support and market the stations’ output.

In line with World Bee Day on May 20, the ministry has called for improving the knowledge and practices of beekeepers to help protect bee populations from disease, pests, pesticides, and environmental stressors.

It also referred to the launch of initiatives to encourage modern beekeeping, increase production efficiency, and support those working in the sector.

There are 25,644 licensed beekeepers in Saudi Arabia, producing 5,832 tonnes of honey from 1 million beehives. The Kingdom’s varied vegetation supports the production of about 20 types of honey, including sidr, talh, and samar.


Saudi authorities launch campaign on safe use of home medical devices

Updated 21 May 2025
Follow

Saudi authorities launch campaign on safe use of home medical devices

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has launched a digital awareness campaign to educate the public on the safe and proper use of medical devices and supplies intended for home use.

The authority aims to reach diverse community segments, providing essential awareness messages and practical guidance to enhance health safety in the home, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It highlighted the importance of purchasing home medical devices from licensed suppliers that offer warranties and after-sales services, including necessary maintenance.

The authority also urged the need to verify that the device has the required licenses and a valid marketing authorization certificate.

Given the wide range of available options and specifications, the authority advised consulting a qualified healthcare professional to select the most appropriate device for an individual’s condition.

It also highlighted the importance of reviewing usage and care instructions, and obtaining any necessary training before purchase.

General safety guidelines include ensuring instructions are available in both Arabic and English, retaining the purchase receipt, keeping devices out of reach of children and pets to prevent tampering, and following recommended calibration and maintenance schedules.

The authority called on the public to report any issues or incidents related to home medical devices or supplies through the National Center for Medical Devices Reporting at ade.sfda.gov.sa/Home/NcmdrReport or by calling the unified number 19999.


Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives publishes book on adhan history, muezzins

Updated 21 May 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives publishes book on adhan history, muezzins

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, known as Darah, has released a new book on the history of the adhan (call to prayer) and biographies of the muezzins of the Two Holy Mosques throughout the centuries.

The book was authored by Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, member of the Council of Senior Scholars and imam and preacher at the Grand Mosque.

It meticulously examines the adhan ritual in the Two Holy Mosques, covering its origins, virtues, and significance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The book is divided into three sections: the adhan’s history, biographies of 95 Grand Mosque muezzins, and 147 Prophet’s Mosque muezzins.

It presents biographies of muezzins who have issued the call to prayer from the time of Prophet Muhammad to the present, the SPA reported.

Drawing on credible historical sources and interviews, the author used a scientific approach to document the evolution of adhan tools and the relationship between the muezzin and the mosque.

The book also highlights the Saudi government’s support in selecting skilled muezzins and using advanced audio technology for local and global broadcasts.

This publication enriches the foundation’s collection, serving as a vital resource for researchers and those interested in the history of the Two Holy Mosques and Islamic rituals.