The AlUla Artist Residency Program debuts at Art Basel Paris, presenting diverse works inspired by ancient myths and contemporary creativity.

Paris, France – October 2024 – The AlUla Artist Residency Program made a striking international debut in Paris this month with the exhibition “Orbis Tertius,” showcasing the work of 20 artists from around the world. Held during Art Basel Paris, the exhibition highlights AlUla’s emergence as a burgeoning hub for creativity and culture.

Launched in 2021 by the Royal Commission for AlUla in collaboration with the French Agency for AlUla Development, the residency program aims to foster artistic exploration in the ancient oasis city. AlUla, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been a centre for trade and culture for millennia, and today its rich history and breathtaking landscape continue to inspire innovative art.

Set within the palm grove of Mabiti AlUla and with a newly opened residence in AlJadidah, the program offers artists a unique environment to reflect on creative practices. Curator Arnaud Morand, head of art and creative industries at AFALULA, described the residency as “a rare opportunity for artists to work in an intense desert context, engaging with the local community and the area’s rich cultural heritage.”

Ancient Myths, Modern Interpretations

Morand, who curated “Orbis Tertius”, drew inspiration from Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges and his collection “Fictions,” which explores how the world is understood through the fusion of myths and reality. This theme resonated with the exhibition’s aim to bridge the past and the future through artistic expression.

“AlUla reinvents itself every day as a fundamental utopia of the 21st century,” said Morand. “This program provides artists with a framework to integrate their work into the broader project of the region, drawing inspiration from its rich history and evolving identity.”

Artists were selected by invitation after submitting portfolios and letters of intent. Only those with established practices relevant to AlUla’s heritage were considered. The residency required artists to spend a minimum of 10 weeks on the ground, interacting with local archaeologists, geologists, anthropologists, and environmental specialists to develop their projects.

Highlights of ‘Orbis Tertius’

The exhibition was held across four floors at 5 rue Saint-Merri in Paris, a short walk from the Pompidou Center. The 43 pieces on display spanned various mediums, including painting, sculpture, video, photography, calligraphy, brickmaking, and live performances.

Kuwaiti artist Monira Al-Qadiri’s “The Guardian” stood at the heart of the exhibition. This 4.5-metre-tall aluminium sculpture drew attention with its depiction of the Calotropis Procera, a hardy plant native to the region that can survive for up to three years without water. Bedouin folklore says its milky secretions can cause blindness, and Al-Qadiri’s work reflects on nature’s potential hostility towards human intrusion.

Jeddah-born filmmaker Anhar Salem offered a more intimate view of AlUla’s social fabric in her series “A Day in AlUla,” eight social portrait vlogs documenting everyday life in the oasis city. “I chose to explore AlUla through its social aspects,” Salem explained. “I engaged with both locals and foreigners to capture the cultural dynamics of the place.”

The exhibition also featured works by Jeddah-based brothers Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz, founders of the architecture and design studio Bricklab. The duo used rammed-earth techniques to create resilient construction materials unique to the region, blending traditional methods with modern additives like concrete and epoxy. Their work symbolised the layers of history that have shaped AlUla.

Artist Reem Al-Nasser, from Jizan, drew on AlUla’s ancient astronomical symbols to create “Alma of the North,” a gleaming structure of steel gates, while Riyadh-based Ayman Zedani explored parasitic plants in his video installation “The Desert Keeper,” blending footage of desert flora with a cosmic journey, narrated by poet Wided Rihana Khdraoul.

A Global Art Destination

As part of AlUla’s global cultural outreach, “Orbis Tertius” marks a significant milestone in positioning the Saudi city as a destination for contemporary art. The Royal Commission for AlUla is determined to create a vibrant cultural ecosystem, and the residency program plays a key role in that vision.

As the exhibition wraps up in Paris, AlUla continues to inspire artists, scientists, and visitors alike, bridging the gap between ancient traditions and modern artistic innovation.