- Fresh perspectives from the Middle East: Three more individuals join the latest residency programme
- AlUla Artist Residency launches accommodations for participants with three new permanent apartments in AlJadidah
AlUla Saudi Arabia-: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the French Agency for AlUla development (Afalula) are delighted to announce the last artist residency of the 2022/2023 season, which is taking place from 14th May 2023 until 14th June 2023 and promises to be a captivating journey into the depth of artistic exploration. This latest residency is a further example of Arts AlUla setting the standard for engaging contemporary artists within the Kingdom, building on the legacy of the Artist Residency programmes. The works produced at the residency will once again be created in dialogue with AlUla’s unique natural and cultural landscape.
As with all residencies RCU, has selected two artists and a curator from a wider group of applicants. The chosen artists for this edition are Hashel Al Lamki and Qamar Abdulmalik, and the first curator in residency is Maryam Bilal.
Hashel Al Lamki is a versatile artist from the United Arab Emirates—his art delves into the intricate relationship between humankind and the environment, both wild and man-made. Meanwhile, Qamar Abdulmalik, a multi-talented artist of Palestinian descent, uses various art forms such as collage, video art, and new media to create thought-provoking installations. Drawing from her personal experiences as a Palestinian refugee, she sheds light on the struggles of Arab diasporas affected by global systems and the everyday life of undocumented immigrants. Finally, Maryam Bilal, a Saudi curator, is passionate about experimenting with exhibition-making models that are collaborative and reciprocal in nature. With a focus on the fast-emerging and vibrant Saudi art scene, her work explores the impact of art imperatives within the region.
The final residency of the 2022/23 AlUla Artist Residency programme will also launch the first three apartments of the new permanent artist residency accommodation in AlJadidah – the region’s design district. Launching this new permanent accommodation represents a significant statement of intent for the AlUla Artist Residency, a critical pillar of Arts AlUla’s programme. The location in AlJadidah will help tie the programme more closely into the ongoing programming, enabling the artists to live amongst the AlUla community in the heart of their activations and events. Fostering interaction as a tool for greater understanding and cross-cultural connections, Arts AlUla is working alongside local and global cultural communities to inspire and train a new generation of arts professionals and creatives in Saudi Arabia by delivering unparalleled initiatives to build skills and experiences.
QUOTES:
“Experiencing AlUla is life-changing for people and the residencies have had an incredible impact on the careers of the artists to date. RCU has implemented four successful Artist Residency programmes now and AlUla is becoming synonymous with residency opportunities; artists want to come here to work, to develop their careers and to live. A lovely example of this is Talin Hazbar, an artist from our first-ever residency who will now be involved in The Water Pavilions project,” said Ali Alghazzawi, Arts & Creative Opportunities Lead at RCU.
“We are excited to host new creatives as part of the AlUla Artist Residency programme, which is fast becoming a cornerstone of our long-term cultural programming strategy and distinctive identity. The residencies serve as a laboratory on how artists meaningfully integrate and engage, and are tributes to the growing fame of AlUla as an inspirational place. Over the course of this one-month period, artists and curators will take a breath, embrace its spirit, and the act of creation, which is embedded in the DNA of AlUla”, said Sophie Makariou, Culture & Heritage Director, and Arnaud Morand, Head of Arts & Innovation, (AFALULA).
Former resident artists’ experiences:
Daniah Al Saleh:
“During my residency in Alula, I immersed myself in its captivating history, mesmerising landscapes, and engaging with the local community. AlUla became a cherished haven, where my creativity flourished, leaving an ingrained mark on my artistic journey”.
Mohammad Alfaraj:
“The residency programme is very rich and the place itself is creatively charged. Time, memory and human trace are fossilized in front of you in AlUla, and its people will carry you on palms of generosity”.
M’hammed Kilito:
“It was a wonderful experience spending three months in AlUla with an amazing group of artists and a great team of collaborators. It is a place where inspiration never stops, your mind is constantly finding creative ideas while you are living there and experiencing the landscapes and meeting the inhabitants. I’m looking forward to going back soon”.