Close

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture launches sculptural symposium series

The series aims to encourage cultural exchange at local and international levels.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has launched the first of a series of arts initiatives that form part of the country’s cultural vision for 2020.

The Ministry invited 20 international and local artists to hand-sculpt, in-situ, free-standing monoliths over a three-week period late last year using blocks of white marble imported from Oman.

The sculptures are now on display at the inaugural Red Sea International Sculpture Symposium, being held in Al Balad, Jeddah’s historic district, overlooking the famous waterfront and facing Midan Al Beyaa.

On display is work from Saudi artists Essam Jameel, Rida Alalawi and Kamal Almualem; European artists Michael Levchenko (Ukraine), Kamen Tanaev (Bulgaria), Jose Carlos Cabello Millan (Spain), Mario Lopes (Portugal), Jo Klay (Germany), Sylvain Patte (Belgium), Butrint Morina (Kosovo), Aggnessa Petrove (Bulgaria), Anna Maria Negara (Romania) and Anna Rasinska (Poland); Asian artists Takeshita Kubo, Fan Chilung-Lien and Lin Li Jen, spanning from Japan to Taiwan; and neighbouring Arab artists Ali Jabbar (Iraq), Hisham Abdulmuty (Egypt) and Hany Fisal (Egypt).

The Riyadh Symposium, the second Symposium of the series, is open now.

The Latest

The Importance of Community-Driven Design

We speak to Joanna Varettas, Senior Associate Designer at TGP International on the story of Seed & Bloom – a café designed to nurture connection and community engagement

Finasi at Downtown Design 2025

Finasi x ROAR presents – Made in UAE

For this year's Downtown Design, Finasi and Pallavi Dean will unveil a bold new installation that blends interiors, fashion, and local identity into a living design dialogue

A Lesson in Restraint

This Palm Jumeirah home proves that luxury can be achieved with intention, rather than scale

Vote for your favourite projects at the identity Design Awards 2025

You can now choose your favourite project from the identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist

identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: Interior Design

The shortlist is revealed for the interior design categories

What to Expect at Downtown Design

The Middle East’s leading platform for high-quality contemporary design will showcase a curated mix of international and regional brands, alongside independent designers and studios

A New Chapter of Wellness

Studio Marco Piva has designed the Eden Spa at Excelsior Palace in Rapallo, where architecture, landscape and luxury converge

Otherworldly

The new Alémais Sydney headquarters reflects the brand’s flair for colourful prints and embellishments

Between Sky and Steel

We step into a sculptural apartment in Istanbul, Turkey

identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: All Categories

Shortlist revealed for all the categories for identity Design Awards 2025

Brimming with Warmth

Atlas Concorde’s porcelain tiles enhance the contemporary design of this villa in Bodrum, Turkey