Desert X AlUla 2024 Returns with Theme of the Unseen

From February 9 to March 23, 2024, the ancient desert region of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, will host the third edition of Desert X AlUla, an open-air art exhibition that responds to its surroundings. Curated by Maya El Khalil and Marcello Dantas, alongside artistic directors Raneem Farsi and Neville Wakefield, this year's theme is "In the Presence of Absence," focusing on the unseen. Artworks will be displayed in various locations, including Wadi AlFann desert and Harrat Uwayrid. This initiative, a partnership between Desert X and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), builds on land art principles. Previous editions saw a 53% rise in daily visitors from 2020 to 2022, and RCU has acquired works from artists like Sherin Guirguis and Manal AlDowayan. The exhibition is part of the AlUla Arts Festival and sets the stage for Wadi AlFann, a 65 sq km land art site set to open in 2026. Nora Aldabal, RCU's Executive Director of Arts and Creative Industries, praised the curators for their insight into AlUla's heritage.