RIYADH: An art exhibition in Venice is helping to introduce international audiences to the creative spirit behind the upcoming Noor Riyadh, the world’s largest festival dedicated to light art.
Held under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye,” the exhibition is organized in collaboration with Italy’s Fondazione Querini Stampalia, and is running at the venue in Venice until Nov. 23.
It reflects Riyadh’s rapid cultural transformation and underscores the capital’s growing role as a regional and global arts hub, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Curated by Mami Kataoka, with Sarah Al-Mutlaq and Li Zhenhua, the exhibition presents a unified artistic vision exploring human experience, transformation, and light, bridging Riyadh and Venice through a shared visual and emotional language.
The exhibition features works by four artists whose pieces will also appear at the Noor Riyadh festival in Saudi Arabia from Nov. 20 to Dec. 6.
Artist Kim Eung-won’s work showcases the Riyadh Metro project as both an urban landmark and a public art gallery, integrating contemporary artworks into station design.
Wang Yuyang is presenting a dynamic interpretation of Riyadh’s rapid technological and urban growth, symbolizing its luminous, modern identity.
Saudi artist Abdulrahman Al-Shahed is contributing a calligraphic work linking Riyadh and Venice, reflecting the historic dialogue between Arab and European cultures.
The exhibition also honors the late Safeya Binzagr (1940–2024), a pioneer of modern Saudi art, introducing Italian audiences to her influential contributions and legacy.
Hosted in the architecturally renowned halls of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, designed by Carlo Scarpa, the exhibition creates a visual and conceptual dialogue between classical Italian architecture and contemporary Saudi creativity.
The initiative is part of the Riyadh Art Program’s mission to strengthen the international presence of Saudi art, position Riyadh as a global center for cultural exchange, and advance Saudi Vision 2030, which identifies culture and the arts as key engines of urban growth and the creative economy.
