Jeddah gallery at the crossroads of art and technology

JEDDAH: ATHR Gallery in Jeddah has unveiled three exhibitions featuring contemporary artists who are harnessing technological innovations to push the boundaries of conventional artistic practice.
The exhibitions — the group show “In/Visible: Objects in the Mirror,” Rami Farook’s “An Untitled ” and the technologically innovative “A Way with Light” — include works in varied materials and styles, each offering a unique perspective on the ways in which contemporary artists are working.
An opening reception for the exhibitions was held on Wednesday and the displays will remain on view until Dec. 27, 2023.
In the main gallery, visitors were welcomed by the inaugural display of “In/Visible: Objects in the Mirror,” with artists exploring the significance of objects, both commonplace and abstract, in everyday lives.
The featured artists Sarah Abu Abdullah, Zahrah Al-Ghamdi, Dana Awartani, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Sultan bin Fahad and Muhannad Shono.
On the upper level of gallery, visitors were invited to step into “A Way with Light,” an exhibition exploring the possibilities that technology offers art.
In addition to a selection of digital art installations, the exhibition showcases an array of non-fungible token artworks curated from both Saudi and international artists, each making use of groundbreaking digital techniques.
The collection is the result of a partnership between ATHR Gallery and its experimental art mediums division AKTHR, and includes more than 2,000 pieces from artists working at the intersection of art and technology.
Featured artists harness technology ranging from coding and programming to advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to create artworks that highlight the role of innovation in shaping societies and cultures.
Three Saudi artists— Ayman Yossri Daydban, Daniah Al-Saleh and Ahaad Alamoudi — integrate digital modalities into their existing art practices, offering a local perspective on a global phenomenon.
Meanwhile, featured artists Andres Reisinger, teamLab, Jonas Lund, Random International, Refik Anadol and Quayola pursue careers in the digital realm, molding new and dynamic roles for artists, viewers and collectors.
Commenting on the displays, Pharah Al-Ghalib, exhibition manager said: “In the ever-changing landscape of contemporary art, digital art and NFTs have established a stronghold on the global art market through innovative use of technology. Our goal is to introduce the national audience to novel modes of art-making and inspire a new generation of artists and creatives.”
Among the exhibition highlights is “Take Over series, 2023” by Reisinger, an Argentine artist who foresees a future in which the digital and physical realms increasingly interact.
“An Untitled” is the Emirati artist, curator and producer Rami Farook’s first solo show in Jeddah, a city he describes as his second home.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Faroook said: “This exhibition is all about my experiments, but instead of making them on the personal level, I am doing these experiments for all as a group.”
In his message to the exhibition’s visitors, he said: “I always focus on educating, informing and entertaining in my work.”