Net Zero at Ithra Explores Sustainability Through Art and 3D-Printed Architecture

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, presents 'Net Zero,' a group exhibition examining humanity's relationship with technology, the environment, and sustainability in the art world. Curated by Candida Pestana with assistant curator Lama Alissa, the show features nine new commissions and works by international and local artists, including Tom Hegen, Philippe Parreno, Bright Ugochukwu Eke, SUPERFLEX, Zahrah Alghamdi, and Mohammad AlFaraj. A key feature is the 3D-printed concrete gallery walls, fabricated in partnership with ACCIONA Cultura, designed to be reconfigured for future exhibitions, promoting a circular approach. Hegen's 'Shoreline – from The Two Degrees Celsius series' (2018) photographs the melting Greenland ice sheet, referencing the Paris Climate Agreement's goal to limit sea level rise. Parreno's 'Iceman in Reality Park' (1995–2019) is an ice sculpture that melts and is replaced, documenting impermanence. Eke's 'Heavy Clouds' (2011–22) uses 10,000 water-filled cellophane bags colored with carbon sediment to highlight pollution. SUPERFLEX's 'As Close as We Get' (2021–ongoing) creates underwater sculptures that serve as habitats for marine life. Alghamdi's site-specific 'City of Thorns' (2023) uses thorns and branches on epoxy resin to explore loss and resilience. AlFaraj's works incorporate palm tree parts and local folktales, addressing agricultural issues in the Al-Ahsa Oasis. The exhibition runs until summer 2024.