AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris

AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris
Artistic directors from Villa Hegra will select a Saudi artist to take part in a residency in Paris. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 May 2025
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AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris

AlUla institution to select Saudi artist for residency in Paris
  • Initiative aims to bring France’s creative expertise to Saudi Arabia
  • Artist will also join Villa Hegra in AlUla for a residency organized by the institution’s cultural program

RIYADH: A cultural institution in AlUla plans to select a Saudi artist to host a residency in Paris in an effort to promote French artisanal traditions in the Kingdom.

The artist will be chosen by Basmah Felemban and Gael Charbau, artistic directors of AlUla’s Villa Hegra.

A collaboration with the Mobilier National, a French governmental body that produces and preserves artisanal furniture, the initiative aims to bring France’s creative expertise to Saudi Arabia.

The artist will also join Villa Hegra in AlUla for a residency organized by the institution’s cultural program.

Villa Hegra is a planned initiative that hosts a variety of artist residencies, creative spaces for cultural initiatives, an exhibition hall, a cinema and performance art studio.

The partnership between Villa Hegra and the Mobilier National will also involve displaying a selection of design pieces from the French organization’s collections at AlUla.

Herve Lemoine, the president of Manufactures Nationales, said: “This partnership continues the Mobilier National’s rich tradition of collaboration with cultural villas, bringing French artisanal excellence to creative spaces around the world.”

Feriel Fodil, the CEO of Villa Hegra, said: “This long-term collaboration also strengthens Villa Hegra’s primary mission: To promote artistic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France, while celebrating their respective artisanal heritages.”

Villa Hegra was officially announced in an intergovernmental agreement signed on Dec. 4, 2021, by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, then-French minister for foreign affairs.

One of Villa Hegra’s goals is to foster cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and France.

Fodil previously told Arab News’ French edition: “It is a state-to-state initiative that represents the willingness of two parties to collaborate at the cultural level.”


Saudi artist transforms scrap metal into sculpture

Saudi artist transforms scrap metal into sculpture
Updated 22 July 2025
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Saudi artist transforms scrap metal into sculpture

Saudi artist transforms scrap metal into sculpture
  • Mishal Al-Amri has been upcycling waste materials into artwork for 20 years
  • He recently held his first public exhibition under the theme 'The Neglected'

JEDDAH: Where others see scrap metal destined for the trash, Saudi artist Mishal Al-Amri sees opportunities to create artwork.

In his bustling studio in Jeddah, Al-Amri works to remove rust before cutting, rolling, shaping and joining thousands of pieces of shaped scrap metal by hand.

He has been upcycling unwanted bits of metal throughout his artistic career, which has spanned 20 years.

“The artist has an eye that sees what others cannot; an eye that captures the beauty in the heart of the damaged and neglected, and restores it to life and meaning. My ultimate hope and goal are to give scrap metal a new life,” Al-Amri told Arab News.

When growing up, Al-Amri loved to draw. As he got older, he started painting. It was not until he retired at the age of 59 that he discovered his true passion and began sculpting with recycled metal after teaching himself how to weld.

“As I said before, it was just a hobby and I stopped it for a long time after I joined the banking sector due to the difficulty of balancing the hobby, the job, and then the family later on.

“Anyhow, when I was approaching 40 years of age, and after having a family and professional job, I began to pursue my artistic journey once again. I worked on paintings during my free time and vacations, and I lived for nearly 26 years just painting, readings, attending art seminars, workshops, and holding exhibitions alongside other local artists.”

Speaking about how he started collecting scrap metal items from the street, the 65-year-old said: “The spark for this artistic journey was the first moments of an evening walk, when my eyes would trace the floor littered with scraps of plastic, scraps of iron and discarded remnants of lighting and plumbing, no longer fit for use or neglected.”

He added: “These pieces I picked up from the streets would become the core of my personal art collection — materials I plucked from the fate of neglect to submit to my ideas and participate in the creation of beauty.”

These materials can end up waiting for days and sometimes years in storage in his studio until an idea suddenly emerges.

“The journey of constructing the painting or sculpture begins; from choosing the colors and sizes of the pieces, to weaving the relationships between them into an artistic composition that gives it a new spirit.”

The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts recently hosted his first solo exhibition showcasing under the theme “The Neglected.”

“This exhibition is the fruit of those moments; an invitation to see the beauty in the unusual, and to contemplate art’s ability to redefine what is damaged and neglected to ultimately become more precious and valuable,” he said.

“My artistic experience in this exhibition is based on two complementary principles: First, protecting the environment from the effects of pollution and human-caused damage, by collecting remnants of harmful materials in the soil and saving them from becoming a burden on the earth.

“Second, sustaining the usefulness of objects, by recycling them and using them in the field of art after their original function has ended, reborn as works of art that convey an aesthetic, humanitarian and environmental message.

Al-Amri says that he plans to continue creating scrap metal sculptures and paintings.

“On a personal level, I want to reopen the Cezanne Fine Arts Center, which I founded years ago and continue to cultivate art until its very end.

“On a more general level, I strive to raise environmental awareness, enabling people to respect and preserve the environment.”


Nancy Ajram lands Times Square billboard

Nancy Ajram lands Times Square billboard
Updated 19 July 2025
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Nancy Ajram lands Times Square billboard

Nancy Ajram lands Times Square billboard

DUBAI: Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram was featured this week on a Spotify billboard in New York City’s Times Square.

She was named the EQUAL Arabia ambassador for July, coinciding with the release of her new album, “Nancy 11.” EQUAL Arabia is a program that aims to amplify the work of women creators by giving them international recognition.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Ajram is known for hits such as “Ah W Noss,” “Ya Tabtab” and “Badna Nwalee El Jaw.” She has released several chart-topping albums, blending traditional Arabic melodies with modern pop, and has built a wide fan base across the region and internationally.


Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission participates in Avignon Festival in France

Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission participates in Avignon Festival in France
Updated 19 July 2025
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Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission participates in Avignon Festival in France

Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission participates in Avignon Festival in France

RIYADH: The Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission is taking part in the 79th edition of the prestigious Avignon Festival in France this month. This year’s festival shines a spotlight on the Arabic language, making it a fitting platform for showcasing the richness of Saudi cultural expressions.

The commission’s participation features four traditional performing art forms — Al-Khatwa, Khabiti, Liwa, and the Ardha of Wadi Al-Dawasir — alongside the theatrical production “Tawq.” Through its presence the commission aims to elevate Saudi performing arts while introducing contemporary Saudi theater to international audiences and fostering cultural exchange.

The play “Tawq,” which is directed by Fahad Al-Dossari, boasts a talented cast, including Ahmed Al-Zekrallah, Fatima Al-Jishi, Maryam Hussein, Abdulaziz Al-Zayani, Khaled Al-Huwaidi, and Shahab Al-Shahab. The performance promises to be a highlight of the festival, offering a glimpse into the evolving narrative of Saudi theater.

The play ‘Tawq’ is directed by Fahad Al-Dossari. (Supplied)

Al-Dossari told Arab News: “For me, any theatrical work is an integrated work, meaning that the harmony between all the elements and their quality is what creates this theatrical state, whether at the level of the idea, the directorial vision, the performance, or the scenography. This is what constitutes the strength of the theatrical performance.”

He stressed the significance of participating in the Avignon Festival, describing it as a “window to the world.”

Al-Dossari believes that the language of theater transcends borders, serving as a universal medium for conveying messages, ideas, and cultural narratives, and added: “This is what we seek in this important participation.”

The Star Program has played a vital role in enabling creative individuals in the theater sector to transform their ideas into reality. Al-Dossari noted the diversity of concepts and visions that have emerged, highlighting creativity in all aspects, from decor and costumes to music and acting performances.

He expressed gratitude to the authority for its unwavering commitment to fostering development and creativity within the sector.

As the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission makes a mark at the Avignon Festival, it stands as a testament to the dynamic cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia and its dedication to sharing its artistic heritage with the world.


Huda Beauty supports Palestine with Saint Levant collab

Huda Beauty supports Palestine with Saint Levant collab
Updated 19 July 2025
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Huda Beauty supports Palestine with Saint Levant collab

Huda Beauty supports Palestine with Saint Levant collab

DUBAI: Huda Kattan, the US-Iraqi founder of Huda Beauty, this week launched a new collaboration with US-based Palestinian singer Saint Levant to support Palestine.

The partnership introduces a new shade of the brand’s popular Faux Filler Lip Oil, with proceeds going to organizations that support Palestinian agriculture and cultural preservation.

Named “Kalamantina,” the shade references Saint Levant’s song of the same name, released earlier this year. The lip oil also features a clementine scent.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by HUDA BEAUTY (@hudabeauty)

“This is for the homeland,” Kattan wrote on the brand’s Instagram page, alongside orange and Palestinian flag emojis. “In honor of this collaboration, Huda Beauty will make a donation to organizations supporting Palestinian agriculture and cultural preservation.”

Both Kattan and Saint Levant, born Marwan Abdelhamid in Jerusalem, have been hinting at this week’s launch through a series of Instagram posts.

In the clips, they danced to Saint Levant’s track “Kalamantina” and posed together next to a vintage car filled with clementines. In another shot, they held clementines labeled with fruit stickers that read, “Grown by Huda n’ Saint Levant.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by HUDA BEAUTY (@hudabeauty)

In the video, the music sensation wore a necklace featuring a map of Palestine, paired with a white tank top and denim jeans.

Meanwhile, Kattan appeared in a white off-the-shoulder lace dress with long, flared sleeves and a fitted silhouette. She completed the look with silver hoop earrings, oversized white sunglasses and a white headscarf, a nostalgic, vintage-inspired ensemble that matched the retro car and clementine-filled set.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Huda (@huda)

Both Saint Levant and Kattan have been outspoken in their support for Palestine and have used their platforms to raise awareness about the war in Gaza.

Saint Levant, whose mother is French Algerian and father is Palestinian Serbian, performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in 2024. During his set, he addressed the war, saying: “Coachella, my name is Saint Levant and I was born in Jerusalem and raised in Gaza … as I hope all of you are aware, the people of Gaza have been undergoing a brutal, brutal genocide. And the people of Palestine have been undergoing a brutal occupation for the past 75 years.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by HUDA BEAUTY (@hudabeauty)

Kattan, meanwhile, has regularly shared footage and updates from Gaza on her social media accounts to amplify awareness. In 2023, she announced a $1 million donation to two humanitarian organizations working in the region: Human Appeal and Doctors Without Borders.


Massive Attack, Brian Eno launch syndicate to defend artists criticizing Gaza war

Massive Attack, Brian Eno launch syndicate to defend artists criticizing Gaza war
Updated 18 July 2025
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Massive Attack, Brian Eno launch syndicate to defend artists criticizing Gaza war

Massive Attack, Brian Eno launch syndicate to defend artists criticizing Gaza war
  • Artists accuse pro-Israel groups of censorship, harassment
  • UK Lawyers for Israel wants to cancel careers, artists argue

DUBAI: British band Massive Attack, British singer and songwriter Brian Eno, Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC and hip-hop trio Kneecap have launched a syndicate to defend artists criticizing Israel’s alleged genocidal war on Gaza.

The group says these artists have been targeted by “aggressive, vexatious campaigns” orchestrated by pro-Israel groups.

In a statement shared on Instagram on Thursday, the musicians expressed concern for emerging artists who they believe are at risk of being “threatened into silence or career cancellation” by groups such as UK Lawyers for Israel.

“We’re aware of the scale of aggressive, vexatious campaigns operated by UKLFI and of multiple individual incidences of intimidation within the music industry itself, designed solely to censor and silence artists from speaking their hearts and minds,” the statement said.

“Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won’t stand by and allow other artists — particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability — to be threatened into silence or career cancellation.”

The syndicate was announced amid mounting tensions involving the UKLFI.

The group filed a police report against Bob Vylan after the band chanted “death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)” during their Glastonbury set, an incident now under police investigation.

The UKLFI also filed a complaint with the BBC for broadcasting the performance, and several of the band’s upcoming shows have since been cancelled.

Mo Chara of Kneecap was also referred to authorities by the UKLFI and later charged with a terrorism offence, accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a live performance.

Following the report, Kneecap had several concerts cancelled.