Art meets tech at Diriyah exhibition

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week we are spotlighting an upcoming exhibition at Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) that will showcase the works created during the inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Program, an upscale Greek seafood restaurant on the Red Sea, and the results of the esports World Cup in Riyadh. 

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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: ‘CONTINUUM’ at Diriyah Art Futures

A view of Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) in Diriyah, Riyadh. (Courtesy of Diriyah Art Futures) 

The first hub for new media in the Middle East and North Africa, Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), which opened in December 2024 in Diriyah, Riyadh, has announced the list of participating artists for “CONTINUUM,” the center’s exhibition showcasing the work of its inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Program.

The exhibition presents the work of 11 emerging artists from around the world, including Turki AlQahtani and Khaled Makshoush from Saudi Arabia; Salma Aly from Egypt; Samia Dzair from Algeria; Aya Abu Ghazaleh from Jordan; Dhia Dhibi from Tunisia; William Brooks from Wales; Junsoo Kim from South Korea; Youssef El Idrissi from Morocco; Kyle Donald Marais from South Africa; and Mohamed Al Mubarak from Bahrain.

The works that will be displayed were developed during the yearlong program held at DAF. Working under the mentorship of artists Anna Ridler and Karen Palmer, the artists explored artistic expression through new media practices, resulting in immersive installations, virtual reality, AI-generated art and sound and screen-based works.

“CONTINUUM ’25 is a testament to Diriyah Art Futures' success as an incubator for the creative pioneers and technological innovators of tomorrow,” said Mona Khazindar, CEO of the Saudi Museums Commission, in the opening press release. “The incredible works produced during the inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Program signal a new era of creative education and artistic empowerment in Saudi Arabia.”

The title of the program and exhibition — “CONTINUUM” — aims to reflect the ever-evolving nature of creative expression and how it adapts and flows with new forms of creative expression, spanning the real and artificial, what is natural and man-made and the human and the machine.

Dates: Sept. 13 - Nov. 15

Location: Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), Diriyah, Riyadh

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Alieia by the Sea

A view of dishes at Alieia by the Sea in Jeddah. (Courtesy of Alieia by the Sea)

Still longing for the flavors of the Mediterranean Greek isles after your summer holiday abroad? Head to Alieia by the Sea in Jeddah, an upscale Greek seafood restaurant on the Red Sea that will satisfy every craving. 

With a focus on gourmet Greek dining, here you can eat delicious fresh fish displayed daily alongside zesty dishes such as grilled octopus with Santorini fava bean puree, lightly cooked tomatoes, capers, fresh oregano and vinaigrette; kolokithokeftedes, fried zucchini balls, feta and herbs served with lemon mint yoghurt sauce; and for the mains, seabass in sea salt crust, traditional Greek moussaka and grilled chicken souvlaki marinated in yoghurt and served with Greek pita bread and tzatziki.

Location: Movenpick Jeddah Al Nawras

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

A view of the first edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. (Courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation) 

• The Diriyah Biennale in its third edition

The Diriyah Biennale’s third edition is quickly approaching. Led by artistic directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the event will launch on Jan. 30, 2026, to continue the growing dialogue between Saudi local and international artists. The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale explores the role of contemporary art in a country that continues to undergo rapid social and economic change. The third edition will build on the two previous editions: “Feeling the Stones,” curated by Philip Tinari in 2022, and “After Rain,” curated by Ute Meta Bauer in 2024.

Dates: Jan. 30 - April 23, 2026

Location: Diriyah, Riyadh

Find more information here.

• “Sounds of Prayer” at The New Medina

On the walls of The New Medina, a new cultural center in the Medina of Sousse in Tunisia, are the evocative images of the Islamic Holy cities of Makkah and Medina in Saudi Arabia shot by British photographer Peter Sanders. After converting to Islam in 1971, Sanders became one of the first Westerners granted permission to photograph the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah. Sanders has since traveled across the Islamic world capturing Muslim communities.

“Through Peter Sanders’ lens, the sounds of prayers become visible," Soraya Hosni, an anthropologist and founder of The New Medina, tells Al-Monitor. "He shines light upon the believers and brings a poetic perspective rooted in heritage while opening pathways to the sacred beauty of everyday life.” 

Sanders’ images are part of the group exhibition "Sounds of Prayer," that shows his work alongside that of Samira Idroos, Ayse Gursoz and Karim Jabbari. The exhibition explores the act of Islamic prayer in everyday activities — including planting, writing, weaving and reciting. 

Dates: until Sept. 20

Location: The New Medina, Sousse, Tunisia

Find more information here.

• PULSE presents Goom Gum

For lovers of electronic music, Goom Gum, a Russian duo of DJs and producers, will perform for one night in Saudi Media City, presenting an electrifying music show of catchy beats and visuals. Since their formation in 2018, Goom Gum has risen from an underground name to one of the most exciting acts in electronic music. They are known for their experimental blend of melodic techno and indie dance that has redefined dance music today. 

Dates: Sept. 12

Location: Saudi Media City, Riyadh

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: “Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads” 

David Rundell’s insightful book, published in 2020, dives deep into Saudi Arabia’s socio-economic transformation at the hands of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. From a traditional and tribal society, the kingdom, once known for its highly conservative Islamic society, is now a place undergoing an unprecedented transformation after significant economic and social reforms. Rundell, one of America’s foremost experts on Saudi Arabia after 15 years living in the kingdom as a diplomat, explores whether the kingdom’s changes under MBS are a vision or a mirage. 

5. View from Riyadh

Catching Sunset in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 2024. Photography by Sueraya Shaheen.

Sueraya Shaheen is a Syrian American photographer, photo editor and arts and culture consultant based in Washington, DC, who travels extensively throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. Her distinctive practice, rooted in documentary-style portraiture with fine art sensibilities, focuses largely on artists within their environments.

“Catching the sunset in Riyadh, a prayer time in the kingdom, is always a time to reflect, in more ways than one,” Shaheen tells Al-Monitor. “For as long as I can remember, I often walk around the neighborhood where I have been staying with my friends (who are like family) during my travels to the kingdom. For me it’s a time to contemplate and be grateful for gifts of friendship and so much more.”

6. By the numbers

• After seven weeks of intense competition, the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh has come to a close, with the Riyadh-based Team Falcons winning from a field of over 2,000 players representing more than 100 countries.
• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the closing ceremony of the event on Sunday and presented a trophy to the Falcons. The team went home with the $7 million grand prize from a record-breaking $70 million total prize pool — the largest in the history of esports, surpassing last year's total of $62.5 million.