AlUla's Ancient Craft Traditions and Contemporary Art Vision
AlUla, Saudi Arabia, boasts a deep-rooted history of craftsmanship, as shown by archaeological discoveries at sites like Dadan, Hegra, and Tayma. Remarkable lion reliefs from the fifth to first centuries BCE, produced by Ma'in merchants, illustrate a sophisticated material culture. The Museum of the Incense Road (MOIR), announced in May 2023, features artifacts uncovered by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula), focusing on trade routes from 2,500 years ago. Inscriptions found at Jabal Ikmah, which was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2023, showcase diverse scripts. Hegra marked its 15th anniversary as a UNESCO site, while Wadi Alnaam opened in November. The RCU is set to establish educational centers, and the Valley of the Arts will debut its first exhibition in 2024.
Key facts
- Lion reliefs guard tombs at Dadan, 50 metres above ruins, carved between fifth and first centuries BCE.
- Merchants from Ma'in in modern-day Yemen crafted the lion reliefs and set up a trading colony in Dadan.
- RCU and Afalula are excavating Dadan; finds will go to the Museum of the Incense Road (MOIR), announced May 2023.
- Jabal Ikmah inscriptions listed on UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2023.
- Wadi Alnaam, with ostrich petroglyphs, opened to public in November.
- Hegra celebrated 15 years as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023.
- RCU plans visitor centres at Dadan and Jabal Ikmah designed by Clément Vergely.
- Madrasat Addeera in AlJadidah Arts District teaches traditional handicrafts.
- Wadi AlFann launches first open-air exhibition in 2024 with five artists.
- Manal AlDowayan's Oasis of Stories to be permanently installed at Wadi AlFann from 2026.
- AlDowayan conducted workshops with 1000 participants for her sculpture.
- Michael Heizer's work will be engravings carved into sandstone.
Entities
Artists
- Ahmed Mater
- Manal AlDowayan
- James Turrell
- Agnes Denes
- Michael Heizer
- Iwona Blazwick
- Jérôme Rohmer
- Clément Vergely
- Dr Helen McGauran
Institutions
- Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
- French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula)
- French National Centre for Scientific Research
- UNESCO
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Madrasat Addeera
- AlJadidah Arts District
- Museum of the Incense Road (MOIR)
- Wadi AlFann
- Canvas
Locations
- AlUla
- Dadan
- Hegra
- Tayma
- Jabal Ikmah
- Wadi Alnaam
- AlJadidah Arts District
- Wadi AlFann
- Ma'in
- Yemen
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Mesopotamia
- Greece
- Rome
- Venice