Diriyah Art Futures unveils 'Maknana' survey of Arab new media art
Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the first New Media Arts center in the MENA region, is set to launch an exhibition called 'Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World.' Co-curated by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, this event will run from April 21 to July 19, 2025, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh. It will feature over 40 artists from the MENA area, highlighting Saudi talents like Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono, and ARC (Abdullah Rashed), along with notable figures such as VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr from Egypt) and Emily Jacir from Palestine. The exhibition will address themes like Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch, including archival and contemporary digital works, alongside public talks and workshops.
Key facts
- Diriyah Art Futures is the first New Media Arts hub in the MENA region.
- Exhibition runs 21 April to 19 July 2025.
- Co-curated by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis.
- Features over 40 artists from the MENA region.
- Includes Saudi artists Ahmed Mater, Muhannad Shono, and ARC (Abdullah Rashed).
- Thematic sections: Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch.
- Includes rare archival works, recent digital experiments, and new commissions.
- Public programme of talks, performances, screenings, and workshops.
Entities
Artists
- Haytham Nawar
- Ala Younis
- Ahmed Mater
- Muhannad Shono
- ARC (Abdullah Rashed)
- VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
- Emily Jacir
- Akram Zaatari
- Abdel Hadi El Gazzar
- Hassan Meer
- Hicham Berrada
- Mona Hatoum
- Walid Raad
- Farah Al-Qasimi
- Samia Halaby
Institutions
- Diriyah Art Futures
- Sfeir-Semler Gallery Beirut / Hamburg
Locations
- Diriyah
- Riyadh
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Palestine
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Morocco
- France
- UAE
- Beirut
- Hamburg