Timur Merah Project XII: Rivers with No End
RIYADH: You know that distinctive scent in the air after it rains? When droplets of rain interact with dry soil, it releases oils that are beneficial and calming for humans. That is the inspiration behind the title of the second iteration of the Diriyah Biennale in Riyadh: “After Rain”.
It is also derived from a Saudi poem, according to the biennale’s artistic director, the German curator Ute Meta Bauer. “The majority of the audience is Arabic-speaking, so we were really looking for a title that resonates with the local population,” she tells Arab News.
This year, the 177 works on show (from artists from all over the world) address pressing topics such as water shortage, arid landscapes and climate migration. The biennale is being staged in Riyadh’s JAX District, overlooking Wadi Hanifah, which has itself dried out over time.
Citra Sasmita
‘Timur Merah Project XII: Rivers With No End’
The spread of Islam through the Asian archipelago is the inspiration behind the Balinese artist’s large-scale wooden work that is symbolic of a waterway and the travel of knowledge. Aesthetically, the carved wooden pillars reference the architecture of the crucial Indonesian port of Nusantara, while the colorful, floral fabrics are inspired by local sail designs.
