SAMoCA, Sharjah Biennial 17, DATALAND, and MONA New Wing Announced
Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Company awarded a USD 490 million contract to build a new flagship for the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) in Diriyah. Designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, the museum spans over 77,000 square meters and will focus on modern and contemporary Saudi art. The existing SAMoCA in JAX District remains open. Sharjah Art Foundation revealed details for Sharjah Biennial 17 (SB17), titled 'What remains, sits restive,' curated by Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento, featuring 109 artists. It runs from January 21 to June 13, 2027 across multiple sites. DATALAND, an AI art museum by Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkılıç, opens June 20 at The Grand LA, with 3,200 square meters and inaugural exhibition 'Machine Dreams: Rainforest' through January 31, 2027. MONA in Hobart opens its AUD 100 million Phrontisterion wing in June, featuring works by Anselm Kiefer, Julian Charrière, Ryoji Ikeda, and Yhonnie Scarce.
Key facts
- SAMoCA's new flagship in Diriyah costs USD 490 million.
- SAMoCA is designed by Godwin Austen Johnson.
- SAMoCA will span over 77,000 square meters.
- Sharjah Biennial 17 is titled 'What remains, sits restive'.
- SB17 curators are Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento.
- SB17 features 109 artists and runs Jan 21 – Jun 13, 2027.
- DATALAND opens June 20 at The Grand LA.
- DATALAND's inaugural exhibition is 'Machine Dreams: Rainforest'.
- MONA's new wing Phrontisterion costs AUD 100 million.
- Phrontisterion includes works by Kiefer, Charrière, Ikeda, and Scarce.
Entities
Artists
- Refik Anadol
- Efsun Erkılıç
- Angela Harutyunyan
- Paula Nascimento
- Rebeca Carapiá
- Gabrielle Goliath
- Lilianne Kiame
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Oscar Murillo
- Khaled Tanji
- Anselm Kiefer
- Julian Charrière
- Ryoji Ikeda
- Yhonnie Scarce
- Aaron Roberts
- Kim Bridgland
- David Walsh
Institutions
- Diriyah Company
- Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA)
- Albawani Company
- Hassan Allam Construction – Saudi Arabia
- Godwin Austen Johnson
- Museums Commission (Saudi Arabia)
- Sharjah Art Foundation
- Sharjah Biennial 17
- DATALAND
- Refik Anadol Studio
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
Locations
- Diriyah
- Saudi Arabia
- JAX District
- Sharjah
- Sharjah City
- Al Dhaid
- Khorfakkan
- Kalba
- Los Angeles
- The Grand LA
- New York
- Hobart
- Tasmania
- Australia