“Art of the Kingdom” brings Saudi contemporary art to Beijing

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we spotlight the first traveling exhibition of Saudi contemporary art, which has opened at the National Museum of China; Misk Art Institute’s summer exhibition in Riyadh; a new Persian restaurant in the Saudi capital; an electronic music festival in Riyadh; and the latest esports World Cup finals.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Saudi contemporary artists at the National Museum of China

An exhibition view of “Art in the Kingdom” at the National Museum of China. (Photography by Artur Weber. Courtesy of the Museums Commission)

After presentations in Rio de Janeiro and Riyadh, “Art in the Kingdom,” an exhibition featuring a curated selection of over 30 Saudi artists working across various disciplines, styles and from different generations, has opened at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Staged by Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the exhibition marks the first traveling group show of Saudi contemporary artists in China, with its arrival in Beijing part of the activations of the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year. 

“‘Art of the Kingdom’ transcends mere art display. It is an offering of insight, an invitation to engage, to listen and to reflect, a journey of connection and understanding,” Mona Khazindar, Saudi author and adviser to the Ministry of Culture, told Al-Monitor. “Through contemporary art, we invite Chinese audiences to explore our rich cultural heritage, our evolving society and our shared human experiences that transcend geographical boundaries.”

The works on show offer powerful reflections on themes of identity, memory, heritage and transformation. These include paintings, multimedia installations and video artworks to present a wide-ranging view of Saudi contemporary art as a means to understand its collective memory, modern history and cultural traditions during a time of change.

Participating artists include Manal AlDowayan, Filwa Nazer, Shadia Alem, Moath Alofi, Muhannad Shono, Dana Awartani, Sarah Brahim, Lina Gazzaz and Ahmed Mater, among many others.

Curated by Argentinian art critic Diana Wechsler, “Art of the Kingdom” first debuted at the historic Paco Imperial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024, before it traveled to the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax in Riyadh earlier this year. The Beijing edition is the third stop of the traveling international exhibition.

Dates: Until Oct. 30, 2025

Location: National Museum of China, Beijing

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Sasani

A view of dishes at Sasani. (Photo courtesy of Sasani)

Sasani, a new Persian restaurant in the Saudi capital, features an upscale interior with nods to traditional Persian design (think the soft, gentle glow of lanterns and the scent of saffron, with Persian melodies in the background), and serves delicious, mouthwatering Persian specialties. Be sure to try Persian stews such as khoresht-e bamieh, a classic dish served with meat stewed with tomatoes, okra and lots of spices; and ghormeh sabzi, a flavorful herb stew often considered the national dish of Iran, made with a blend of sauteed herbs, lamb or beef, and dried kidney beans. There’s also a selection of charcoal-grilled dishes featuring kebab skewers and cuts of meat topped with savory and aromatic spices.

Location: Via Riyadh, Hittin, Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

A view of the group art exhibition at Misk Art Institute. (Courtesy of Misk Art Institute)

• “The Intergenerational Lens of Social Change” at Misk Art Institute

Saudi Arabia’s Misk Art Institute, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, has opened the third edition of its summer exhibition titled “The Intergenerational Lens of Social Change,” presenting over 40 artists and more than 50 artworks that explore the theme of change across generations. The show features 43 Saudi and Saudi-based artists who explore how personal and collective histories impact social change. Works on show include paintings (both figurative or abstract), photography and multimedia installations that capture the ever-evolving Saudi art scene.

“The Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall Exhibition: Summer 2025 embodies Misk Art Institute’s commitment to nurturing artistic talent and fostering intergenerational dialogue through art,” Basma Alshathry, director of the curatorial department and chief curator at Misk, said in the opening press release.

Dates: Until Sept. 25

Location: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall, Riyadh

Find more information here.

• Euphoria presents: Space Motion Live

An electronic music event featuring a diverse lineup of artists — presented by Euphoria, a Saudi series known for hosting local and international talent — takes place later this week in Riyadh. The event, called Space Motion Live, leads off with Serbian DJ Space Motion followed by London-based BKR and IGNITER from Germany. If you’re ready for emotional electronic music, this is your night.

Dates: Aug. 8

Location: Saudi Media City, Riyadh

Find more information here.

• Esports World Cup Riyadh

For lovers of gaming, the esports World Cup in Riyadh continues for the fifth week with the final for Call of Duty, Warzone, EA Sports FC 25 and Rainbow 6 Siege X. There will be a show match between the two football legends Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima and Ricardo Kaka — commonly referred to as Ronaldo and Kaka — on Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at Content Creator Park in Riyadh Boulevard City.

Dates: Until Aug. 24

Location: Boulevard City, Riyadh

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: “The Bro Code of Saudi Culture”

In this book, Saudi author Abdul Al Lily unpacks what it means to be Saudi, delving into various Saudi cultural and societal norms with wit in a way that is entertaining and deeply informative. Al Lily conducted 2,000 interviews with Saudi nationals and expats for the book, making it the first to explore Saudi culture in a more descriptive and nonjudgmental manner. For anyone wishing to understand the ins and outs of Saudi culture during a period of great social transformation for the country, this book will open your eyes and give you a deeper understanding of the Saudi internal code of conduct.

5. View from Riyadh

Skyscrapers in the King Abdullah Financial District, in Riyadh. (Photography by Osama Alshubbar)

Riyadh-based Saudi photographer Osama Alshubbar tells Al-Monitor how he’s “fascinated by the ability to see things differently and how a change in perspective or an unconventional angle can give a totally different image or even change the meaning of a photo.” This is why photographing the King Abdullah Financial District and its unique architecture enables Alshubbar to capture another perspective of the iconic area for finance in Riyadh. “To portray what other people might just see as another building, in a way that lets them stop and think, how did we miss those lines and geometrical beauty? Or even, how can this abstract photo be an actual building?” he adds. 

Alshubbar — or Simsim, as he is often called in the fashion industry — began his photography journey during his two-year depression. Taking pictures with his phone camera to capture candid street-life photos became an outlet for him to express himself. When he returned to Saudi Arabia after studying in the United States, he bought a camera and began taking more conceptual style photographs. He was soon noticed for his work and has since shot editorials and covers for various fashion magazines, brands and companies, including Marie Claire and Vogue Arabia.

6. By the numbers

• Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power Company plans to build the kingdom’s second multi-billion dollar green hydrogen plant in Yanbu, despite its struggles to sell output from the first project in Neom, according to Bloomberg.
• Acwa Power is among the developers of a 4-gigawatt green hydrogen project within Neom. According to Bloomberg, it expects the $8.5 billion Neom plant to produce around 219,000 tons of green hydrogen, much less than Yanbu's 400,000 tons per year.