Inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah Explores Ritual and Migration

The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale (IAB) opened at Jeddah's Western Hajj Terminal, curated by Sumayya Vally, Saad Alrashid, Omniya Abdel Barr, and Julian Raby, organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. Themed 'Awwal Bait (First House)' in reference to the Ka'aba, the exhibition is split into two sections: 'Qiblah: Sacred Direction' indoors, exploring daily Muslim rituals across six subsections, and 'Hijrah: Migration' outdoors, featuring larger works and community events. The biennale features 44 contemporary artists from across the Islamic world (not all Muslim) and 280 historical pieces, including a golden Ka'aba door commissioned by King Abdulaziz in 1944. Notable installations include syn architects' 'Anywhere can be a place of worship' (2023), Yasmeen Lari's bamboo mosques, Joe Namy's 'Cosmic Breath' (2023) with multiple azan recordings, and Igshaan Adams' prayer rug works. The scenography by OMA uses hanging felt and dim lighting, progressing from black to white. The outdoor section includes Civil Architecture's inverted sundial and Haroon Mirza's meteorites. The biennale aims to redefine Islamic art from contemporary perspectives and has been extended until 23 May 2023.