Wadi AlFann, Valley of the Arts, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cutrated by:
Iwona Blazwick, Chair, Royal Commission for AlUla's Public Art Expert Panel
Organised by:
Royal Comission for AlUla
For AlUla’s Wadi AlFann, Mater introduces his colossal ‘Ashab Al-Lal’, which will explore the mythic space through subterranean elements and mirrors. The artist challenges the idea of the landmark as a symbol of status and authority, viewing it instead as a place for the transmission of knowledge. Creating a spiritual, transcendental experience for the viewer, Mater has drawn from great scientific and philosophical thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age.
Ashab Al-Lal, a vast installation situated in the hot sands of Wadi AlFann, a 65-square-kilometre ‘valley of the arts’ in AlUla in the north-west of Saudi Arabia. Visitors descend through a tunnel into a subterranean chamber, where a mirage will reflect their image above ground so that walkers in the desert will encounter their apparition.
Set against the breathtaking sandstone cliffs and canyons of the vast terrain, the pieces celebrate the landscape of AlUla and respect the archaeological relics and colossal history. Drawing from its scenic topography, undulating panoramas, and distinctive geological structures, the schemes present an oasis of narratives inviting local communities, art lovers, adventurers, and globetrotters to explore and discover. The site’s pavilions, walkways, and belvederes will use locally sourced materials and be positioned to facilitate the free movement of camel herds and other native species.
"Wadi AlFann is unprecedented in its ambition, a world-leading platform enabling remarkable artists to create the most significant works of their lifetimes. It will set a new global example for experiencing art in dialogue with nature, celebrating the human creativity that unites communities across the world and inspiring current and future generations of artists. A display of such epic scale, set in a terrain as monumental as the AlUla desert, has the potential to shape the course of art history in real time."