RIYADH: Entering the Misk Institute is like visiting wonderland. New visitors can only marvel at the artwork that covers walls, ceilings and even staircases.
This creative hub is not afraid of color and has an energetic vibe. Ambitious young people work here and their energy is palpable.
The entrance hall declares “Our ambitions reach the sky,” quoting the words of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose portrait hangs alongside his words.
Color is a trademark of Misk Institute Director Ahmed Mater. Born in Tabuk in 1979 and raised in the city of Abha in the south of the Kingdom, Mater’s love of art came early. “I love color, I grew up around it,” he said.
He is referring to Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the multi-colored wall decorations deeply rooted in the south of the Kingdom.
This ancient art form, exclusively practiced by women, has been declared part of the cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
Mater’s own works give an unparalleled perspective on modern-day Saudi Arabia. He has regularly exhibited around the Kingdom, and in numerous international institutions such as New York’s Guggenheim and Brooklyn museums, Washington’s The Smithsonian, and in Lebanon, Bahrain, Denmark, France and many more. He is seen worldwide as the unofficial historian of Saudi socio-political life.
Before becoming an artist, he was a medical physician. But far from it being a change in direction, Mater said both are “intertwined and go hand in hand.”
His “Illuminations” project showed his fascination for merging science and art. He created a fusion of x-rays and traditional Islamic arts using discarded hospital images and paints on paper prepared with tea and pomegranate to achieve a luminous effect.
He has attracted attention for his ground breaking displays. His work encompasses photography, video, installation, paintings and calligraphy, his style changing from project to project.
As director of the Misk Institute, he has had the full support of the crown prince. Mater said: “This is Saudi Arabia’s Renaissance age, and our crown prince is the Medici.”
Referring to his famous photograph “Magnetism” (2011), Mater said: “Anyone who has been to Makkah and specifically visited the Ka’aba can feel the spiritual pull. That’s where the idea came from.”
Mater’s eyes light up as he leafs through the pages of his latest work “Sculptures of Jeddah.” It documents the restoration and relocation of 26 major works that had been forgotten.
“Jeddah is the bride of the sea, always known for its beauty and being a haven for artists,” he said.
He said in 1972, the newly appointed mayor of Jeddah at the time, Mohammed Said Farsi, initiated the Jeddah Beautification Project and purchased more than 400 sculptures, including works by international artists.
Working for more than a year to collect all these treasures and document them in an almost 300-page book, Mater is something of a historian, documenting magnificent sculptures that are Jeddah’s landmarks.
His book explored and revived the work of many renowned artists who have contributed to Jeddah’s famous landmarks.
“Pick a favorite,” I said. Mater’s eyes lit up and he said: “They are all special.” He leafs through the book and shows me works by Cesar Baldaccini, Henry Moore and many others.
“Many people are astonished that Jeddah has works of art by many of these famous sculptors,” he said.
There is a light in his eyes as he marvels at the sculptures, as if looking at them for the first time. The book records the extreme care taken to bring the sculptures back to life.
Speaking of other Saudi cities, Mater said: “In less than five years, Riyadh will be transformed into an artist’s retreat with many art works.”
He is striving to ensure this goal is achieved, while also inspiring many all over the world through his work.
Meet Ahmed Mater, the man transforming Saudi Arabia into an art haven
Meet Ahmed Mater, the man transforming Saudi Arabia into an art haven
In the light of Andalusia: Luis Olaso’s new body of work
- Luis Olaso transforms Andalusian landscapes and light into abstract art, creating canvases that reflect culture, nature, and the artist’s inner state
- Each work in ‘Photosynthesis’ acts as a sensory and meditative portrait — an immersion into the Andalusian experience and the artist’s emotional universe
DUBAI: Spanish artist Luis Olaso is presenting “Photosynthesis,” his new exhibition, until March 9 at the JD Malat Gallery in Downtown Dubai. The series marks a turning point in his career, born from his recent move to Cadiz, in Andalusia, where the sun, light, and Mediterranean landscapes have profoundly transformed his practice.
For Olaso, relocating to southern Spain was not merely a change of scenery but an immersion into a culture and environment that nourishes his art at every moment.
“It’s very important for me because this is the first exhibition I have created in my new studio … I built it in the middle of the garden, surrounded by nature, fruit trees and olive trees, with a fantastic landscape. The influence of Andalusia and the colors of that place are the driving force behind my work,” said Olaso.
Located at the heart of an estate surrounded by olive, almond, and orange trees, his studio is designed to allow nature to enter the creative process both physically and psychologically. Yet, rather than depicting these elements directly, Olaso absorbs them as a sensory catalyst: Each color, texture, and gesture becomes the expression of a lived moment.
“Even when I work with plants or flowers, I’m not aiming for literal representation; they are vehicles to express abstract metaphors of myself and the moment I’m living while creating the work,” he said.
His artistic process is both spontaneous and meditative. Olaso often works on several canvases simultaneously to free himself from the pressure of the “perfect painting,” allowing intuition to guide his brush. Music — the Spanish band Triana and 1970s psychedelic flamenco — plays a central role in his focus and inner connection.
“Painting, for me, is similar to meditation. I need to be in that precise moment and feel connected with myself,” said Olaso.
“Photosynthesis” also reflects a profound cultural and artistic dialogue. The artist’s work draws from Spanish tradition— with references to Antoni Tapies and Manolo Millares — as well as major international abstract movements, including American gestural abstraction and the San Francisco Bay Area Figurative Movement.
This meeting point between abstraction, culture, and emotion transforms each canvas into a portrait of a lived instant and the artist’s inner state.
After Dubai, Olaso is expected to present a solo exhibition in Madrid in March 2026, followed by another solo exhibition in Helsinki in April. An art fair is scheduled for September, with additional fairs planned throughout the year, notably with the JD Malat Gallery.
These milestones illustrate his universal approach to art, deeply rooted in a specific cultural context: the light, color, and sensory memory of Andalusia. With “Photosynthesis,” the artist offers viewers an experience in which painting becomes a mirror of the self, an emotional journey, and an encounter with a singular place.
