Venice, October (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 19 اكتوبر 2025ء) Held under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye,” the exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Italy-based Fondazione Querini Stampalia. It reflects the rapid cultural transformation underway in Riyadh and underscores the capital’s growing role as a regional and global hub for the arts.
Curated by Mami Kataoka, in cooperation with Sarah Al-Mutlaq and Li Zhenhua, the exhibition presents a unified artistic vision that explores the intersections of human experience, transformation, and light, bridging Riyadh and Venice through a shared visual and emotional language.
The exhibition features works by four artists whose pieces will also appear at Noor Riyadh 2025, to be held in Riyadh from November 20 to December 6. Among the participants, artist Kim Eung-won showcases the Riyadh Metro Project as both an urban landmark and a public art gallery where contemporary artworks are seamlessly integrated into station design. Meanwhile, Wang Yuyang presents a dynamic interpretation of Riyadh’s rapid technological and urban growth, symbolizing its luminous and modern identity.
Saudi artist Abdulrahman Al Shahed contributes a calligraphic work linking Riyadh and Venice, symbolizing the historical dialogue between Arab and European cultures. The exhibition also honors the late Safeya Binzagr (1940–2024), a pioneer of modern Saudi art, introducing Italian audiences to her influential contributions and legacy.
Hosted in the architecturally renowned halls of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, designed by Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, the exhibition creates a visual and conceptual dialogue between classical Italian architecture and contemporary Saudi creativity.
The initiative forms part of the Riyadh Art Program’s broader mission to strengthen the international presence of Saudi art, position Riyadh as a global center for cultural and artistic exchange, and advance the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which identifies culture and the arts as vital engines of urban growth and the creative economy.
