Muhannad Shono's 'The Ground Day Breaks' at ATHR Gallery Explores Sand as Protagonist

Muhannad Shono's solo exhibition 'The Ground Day Breaks' at ATHR Gallery in Riyadh (18 February–20 May) centers on reclaimed black foundry sand, transforming industrial waste into a narrative of agency and renewal. Curated by Dr Nat Muller, the show presents a series of works that trace the sand's journey from broken blocks to ethereal lightboxes and large-scale installations. Key pieces include 'What Remains' (2024), where sand blocks break on carbon paper; 'Night Dew' (2024), lightboxes with stippled carbon paper; 'Seedlings' (2024), a floral bloom on paper; 'From the Land' (2024), resin-coated sand forms; 'Folding Lines' (2024), curtain-like strips; and the titular 'The Ground Day Breaks' (2024), 2000 hand-crafted pieces radiating from an empty center. The exhibition is held at JAX, Riyadh's emerging art district. Shono's work references Islamic narratives, notably Al-Khidr, and emphasizes the cyclical nature of desert as both graveyard and birthsite.