RIYADH.- Saudi Arabia: Tuwaiq Sculpture is an annual symposium and exhibition in Durrat Al Riyadh, which is unique in that it allows the public to witness live sculpting of large-scale artworks, this year by 30 international and local artists. Its accompanying exhibition welcomes visitors from February 5 – 10, 2023, to see the completed artworks for the first time after 26 days of live sculpting.

30 artists travelled to Riyadh from 20 countries around the world to participate in Tuwaiq Sculpture, from as far as Austria, China, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland, alongside strong representation from Saudi Arabia. Artists have exhibited works internationally, with a number working as academics within the field of sculpture.

The cultural exchange is uniting international and local minds through sculpture and furthering Riyadh as a cultural hub in Saudi Arabia. The artists were selected from an open call by a jury panel of experts, including this edition’s curator Marek Wolynski, along with Alaa Tarabzouni, Ali AlTokhais, Dr. Effat Fadag and Johannes von Stumm.

This year’s theme, ‘Energy of Harmony’, developed by Wolynski, reflects the balance we all strive for in our lives, as well as ideas of cohesion and mutual understanding in the midst of great transformative change. Artists responded to the theme whilst weaving in narratives existing in their practice and drawing inspiration from their physical location in Riyadh. The resulting sculptures speak to the local environment whilst channelling a narrative that transcends borders.

A strong cohort of Saudi women sculptors are participating this year, including Noha Al-Sharif, Rajaa AlShafee, Wafa Alqunibit and Azhar Saeed. Al-Sharif will present her artwork entitled Vision, exploring the female body, which in her piece takes the form of both human and bird combined, and is complimented by the smooth material and surface of Saudi granite. In response to the curatorial theme of Tuwaiq Sculpture 2023, ‘Energy of Harmony’, her artwork explores a balanced harmony between the two forms. Another highlight includes a piece by Spanish artist José Carlos Cabello Millán, whose sculpture entitled Understanding utilizes 3D printing technologies and investigates human relationships, asserting that the understanding between two people is based on a shared language.

The sculptures will be exhibited in situ for a period of 6 days, from February 5 – 10. After this, they will be relocated to permanent locations throughout the capital city of Saudi Arabia, enriching the Riyadh Art collection and becoming a permanent feature of Riyadh’s urban fabric. Carved out of granite and Riyadh stone, the sculptures embrace the viewer in a maze of cultural significance as they tour the exhibition.

Sarah AlRuwayti, Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium Director, explains: “For the first time since the launch of Tuwaiq Sculpture in 2019, the symposium has used stone sourced from quarries in Riyadh, specifically granite and sandstone, also known as Riyadh Stone. This choice bears symbolic significance; it is a way to highlight Saudi Arabia’s rich history with the medium, from ancient artifacts to rock carvings and modern-day sculpture. Now these artworks will not only be part of Riyadh, but also part of each artist’s legacy, leaving a momentous mark on the city.

“For the last month, the public has been able to witness the live sculpting of these artworks here in Durrat Al Riyadh. In the context of our capital city, this is a unique feature of Tuwaiq Sculpture, that visitors can observe the creative process and see for themselves how the material is transformed with skill and artistic dedication.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a packed agenda of panel talks in both Arabic and English, also taking place at Durrat Al Riyadh from February 5 – 8, 2023. Discussions will cover relevant topics on contemporary sculpture and art, featuring leading experts and artists. The talks, open to all and free of charge, can be booked on the Riyadh Art website.

Tuwaiq Sculpture is part of the broader Riyadh Art program, which seeks to turn Riyadh into a “gallery without walls” with more than 1,000 artworks to be displayed across the city in the coming years. Launched in 2019, Tuwaiq Sculpture has since engaged with 90 renowned local and international artists and thousands of visitors.