Diriyah Biennale 2024: 92 Artists, 'After Rain' Theme
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale has announced 92 participating artists from 43 countries for its second edition, titled 'After Rain', running from 20 February to 24 May 2024 in the JAX District, Riyadh. Led by artistic director Ute Meta Bauer with curators Wejdan Reda, Rahul Gudipudi, Rose Lejeune, and Anca Rujoiu, the biennial includes 30 artists from the wider Gulf region. The title evokes the scent of rain on soil, symbolizing revitalization. Artists explore local history, human-nature relationships, and the built environment, with some works created in collaboration with writers, poets, botanists, architects, scientists, planners, and chefs. The biennial addresses the role of contemporary art in a rapidly changing Saudi society. New commissions respond to research trips across Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. The event spans seven halls, courtyards, and terraces, featuring performances, concerts, and poetry readings from the year-long Biennale Encounters series that began in April 2023. Notable artists include El Anatsui, Joan Jonas, Tomás Saraceno, and many others.
Key facts
- Second edition of Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale titled 'After Rain'
- 92 artists from 43 countries, including 30 from the Gulf region
- Artistic director: Ute Meta Bauer; curators: Wejdan Reda, Rahul Gudipudi, Rose Lejeune, Anca Rujoiu
- Runs from 20 February to 24 May 2024 in JAX District, Riyadh
- Theme explores revitalization and renewal, referencing the smell of rain on soil
- Includes new commissions responding to research trips across Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries
- Features performances, concerts, and poetry readings from Biennale Encounters series (started April 2023)
- Artists include El Anatsui, Joan Jonas, Tomás Saraceno, and others
Entities
Artists
- Ute Meta Bauer
- Wejdan Reda
- Rahul Gudipudi
- Rose Lejeune
- Anca Rujoiu
- Hamra Abbas
- Sara Abdu
- Irene Agrivina
- Alia Ahmad
- Azra Akšamija
- Nabila Al Bassam
- Dhali Al Mamoon
- Reem Al Nasser
- Rasha Al-Duwaisan
- Abdulrahman Al-Soliman
- Mohammad AlFaraj
- Abdulla Buhijji
- Noor Alwa
- Aseel AlYaqoub
- El Anatsui
- Nazgol Ansarinia
- Rasheed Araeen
- Siah Armajani
- Martha Atienza
- Tarek Atoui
- Dana Awartani
- Asma Bahmim
- Sammy Baloji
- Zarina Bhimji
- Ursula Biemann
- Safeya Binzagr
- Rossella Biscotti
- Britto Arts Trust
- Muhanned Cader
- María Magdalena Campos-Pons
- Liu Chuang
- Tiffany Chung
- Ade Darmawan
- The Migrant Ecologies Project
- Lucy Davis
- Zai Tang
- Kee Ya Ting
- Zachary Chan
- Priyageetha Dia
- NJOKOBOK
- Youssou Diop
- Apolonija Šušteršič
- Ibrahim El-Salahi
- Alia Farid
- Christine Fenzl
- Ângela Ferreira
- Alexander Eriksson Furunes
- Sudarshan Khadka
- Simryn Gill
- Anne Holtrop
- Hasan Hujairi
- Saodat Ismailova
- Joan Jonas
- Armin Linke
- Ahmed Mater
- Mariah Lookman
- Taus Makhacheva
- Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
- Regina Maria Möller
- James Morris
- Tania Mouraud
- Zarina Muhammad
- Dala Nasser
- Hind Nasser
- Hussein Nassereddine
- Filwa Nazer
- Nguyễn Trinh Thi
- Elia Nurvista
- Phi Phi Oanh
- Lucy + Jorge Orta
- Sopheap Pich
- Marjetica Potrč
- Lala Rukh
- Arin Rungjang
- Tomás Saraceno
- Citra Sasmita
- Seher Shah
- Liang Shaoji
- Hassan Sharif
- Shooshie Sulaiman
- Tang Da Wu
- Paulo Tavares
- autonoma
- Sissel Tolaas
- Anaïs Tondeur
- Mona Vătămanu
- Florin Tudor
- Suzann Victor
- Munem Wasif
- Ines Weizman
- Yeo Siew Hua
- Liam Young
- Camille Zakharia
- Samia Zaru
Institutions
- Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale
- JAX District
- Biennale Encounters
Locations
- Diriyah
- Saudi Arabia
- Riyadh
- Gulf region