Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect

Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect
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Visitors at the Nabil Fanous Exhibition. (Fenaa Alawwal)
Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect
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Alia Mardini’s rendition of Fanous’ architecture is a skillfully cut tapestry made of paper to create a visually intriguing geometric shape that reflects the magnificence of the structures. (AN photo)
Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect
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Laurian Ghinitoiu from Romania is one of the artists showcasing his work at the exhibition. (AN photo)
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Updated 25 January 2024
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Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect

Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Palestinian architect
  • Artists showcase work inspired by Nabil Fanous’ architecture and design

RIYADH: Fenaa Alawwal launched the Nabil Fanous Exhibition on Sunday in memory of the late Palestinian architect’s rich legacy and contributions to Saudi Arabia.

Fanous, who was born in 1940, was one of the most prolific and renowned architects in the Arab region. He was progressive, gaining international recognition for his design projects and collaborations. Fanous transcended borders to produce a rich body of work evident in the post-modern Saudi landscape before his death in 2017.

This is the first exhibition that sheds light on the multifaceted career and dedication that anchored Fanous as a design pioneer. It pays homage to the architect’s talent and vision and allows visitors to experience his creations through artistic renditions.

In a unique and poignant tribute, the works are showcased in a building he designed, Fenaa Alawwal.

Originally commissioned by the Saudi Hollandi Bank in 1985, the building is a cultural landmark in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter.

The exhibition includes a selection of Fanous’s unique architectural designs and works by artists and architects inspired by his practice.

Stepping into the exhibition is like stepping into the architect’s mind, as each structure and space exudes his signature style and attention to detail.

As visitors meander through the exhibition, they cannot help but feel a sense of connection to the architect and his profound influence. This exhibition serves as a celebration of a life dedicated to the creation of spaces that shape our lives and reminds us of the enduring impact of a visionary architect.

Laurian Ghinitoiu from Romania is among the artists showcased at the exhibition. He too is an architect and also works with film, photography, and installations.

His photography positioned key Fanous buildings into the respective decade they were built in.

With an observant, curious, and appreciative gaze, the photographer saw beyond the structures, uncovering the storylines that unfolded within the heart of the city around them.

Ghinitoiu told Arab News: “The way I look at architecture is to look into the elements but also the way they are used, standing still as time expands into the space.”

His work has featured in exhibitions around the world, including the US and Germany.

Ghinitoiu presented the photos he captured of the buildings, saying: “I visited seven projects, and I picked one photo from each of the projects to try to get a feeling encapsulated in the buildings through one single shot.”

He added that Fenaa Alawwal’s old basement, where the exhibition is, used to be a bank safe.

“Because of that curvature within the previously safe room, I decided to frame my photographs in a concave shape. It gives it the 3D effect as well,” Ghinitoiu said.

Positioned as an architectural anthology rather than a comprehensive overview of his monumental body of work, the exhibition provides an in-depth look at a selection of buildings, including those from Fanous’ early brutalist-inspired era such as the GOSl headquarters, his post-modern expressionism period, and also his material-centered contemporary work such as the Arab Urban Development Institute.

Alia Mardini’s rendition of Fanous’ architecture is a skillfully cut tapestry made of paper to create a visually intriguing geometric shape that reflects the magnificence of the l structures.

“Each layer together captures the essence of Fanous’ architectural vision, highlighting the interplay between light, shadow, and form,” she told Arab News.

The final result was a mesmerizing display of geometry and architecture, allowing viewers to experience a harmonious blend of art and design.

The exhibition runs until April 14.


AlUla celebrates citrus harvest with Citrus Season 2025

AlUla celebrates citrus harvest with Citrus Season 2025
Updated 03 January 2025
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AlUla celebrates citrus harvest with Citrus Season 2025

AlUla celebrates citrus harvest with Citrus Season 2025
  • Such initiatives ‘showcase beauty of agricultural heritage and position AlUla as a premier agritourism destination’ top RCU official tells Arab News

ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla launched Citrus Season 2025 on Friday. The event coincides with the peak harvest period, and “underscores the RCU’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and establishing AlUla as a premier agritourism destination,” according to a statement.

Rami AlMoallim, the RCU’s vice president of destination management and marketing, told Arab News: “AlUla’s growth as a destination has always been rooted in supporting the local community, with farmers playing a pivotal role in our agritourism endeavor.

“The Citrus Festival is one of several platforms that celebrate AlUla’s farmers, showcasing their expertise and the city’s natural abundance. These farmers, with generations of knowledge and dedication, are also central to our vision for a more sustainable future. Through initiatives such as festivals, marketplaces, training, and ongoing support, we are amplifying their contributions and providing them with broader opportunities to thrive,” he continued.

Underscoring that the changing seasons are fundamental to agriculture, AlMoallim said: “We work closely with farmers to identify the optimal times for events like the Citrus Festival, which harnesses the peak season for the more than 20 citrus variants in AlUla. This thoughtful planning enables us to align complementary events, offering visitors an immersive experience that reflects the rich diversity of AlUla.

“Such initiatives showcase the beauty of our agricultural heritage and position AlUla as a premier agritourism destination in Saudi Arabia, contributing significantly to its economic and cultural development,” he added.

Citrus Season, which runs until Jan. 11, is intended to stimulate economic growth through community-focused initiatives and sustainable development projects. It provides a vital platform for local farmers to market their produce, which yields thousands of tons of fruit annually between November and February, contributing significantly to the region’s agricultural and economic development.

The event showcases the diverse range of citrus fruits cultivated in AlUla, which is home to more than 5,000 farms containing 405,000 trees between them, bearing 29 distinct varieties of fruits including oranges, sweet lemons, bergamot oranges, sugar oranges, mandarins, clementines, grapefruits, and kumquats.

Covering 701 hectares, these farms produce 14,000 tons of citrus fruit annually, accounting for a significant portion of the Kingdom’s total annual production of 160,000 tons.

This demonstrates AlUla’s crucial role in strengthening the national agricultural sector and supporting economic diversification in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The RCU prioritizes the development of AlUla’s agricultural sector to “expand economic opportunities, increase producer competitiveness, create opportunities for local residents, and offer visitors unique experiences through interactive activities that highlight the importance of agriculture to the region’s present and future,” according to the commission.

This year’s Citrus Season will feature exhibition spaces for local families and farmers, a variety of events for residents and visitors, and a training course on using citrus fruits in cooking.

Along with AlUla’s Dates Season, Citrus Season represents a key economic driver, showcasing AlUla’s rich agricultural heritage. 

Dates and citrus fruits play a vital role in supporting the local economy and advancing the RCU’s sustainable development goals.

 


Saudi Arabia affirms its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance

Saudi Arabia affirms its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance
Updated 6 min 7 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia affirms its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance

Saudi Arabia affirms its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance

RIYADH: Syria's newly appointed foreign minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani said in a post on X on Friday that he conveyed on a visit to Saudi Arabia the vision of establishing a government based on partnership and efficiency that includes all Syrian components. 

Al-Shaibani said Saudi Arabia affirmed its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance and support its unity and territorial integrity.

The minister said Saudi Arabia expressed its support for the Syrian people and the new Syrian administration. 

Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity while emphasizing efforts to achieve security, stability, and prosperity for the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The discussions also focused on preserving Syrian state institutions, enhancing its capabilities, and facilitating its reintegration into the Arab and Islamic worlds, SPA added.

Senior Saudi officials including Prince Musab bin Mohammed Al-Farhan and ambassadors Saud Al-Sati and Faisal Al-Majfal were also in attendance.

Al-Shibani arrived with a high-level Syrian delegation on Wednesday, including Defense Minister Marahf Abu Qasra and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab.

They were welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji.

This marks Al-Shibani's first foreign trip since the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar Assad on Dec. 8.

The visit comes after Syria’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, praised Saudi Arabia's potential role in shaping Syria’s future during an interview with Al Arabiya on Sunday.


Salsola, the camels’ favorite food, plays a big role in fighting desertification

Salsola, the camels’ favorite food, plays a big role in fighting desertification
Updated 03 January 2025
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Salsola, the camels’ favorite food, plays a big role in fighting desertification

Salsola, the camels’ favorite food, plays a big role in fighting desertification

ARAR: Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region is characterized by an abundance of seasonal and annual pastoral plants which helps to fight desertification, increase vegetation cover and biodiversity, and stabilize soil.

 

Estimated at 104,000 sq. km, the region has many species of trees, shrubs and pastoral plants, most notably the evergreen shrub Salsola, which is eaten predominantly by camels, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

 

Nasser Rashid Al-Majlad, president of the Aman Environmental Society in the Northern Borders region, said the region is classified as a pastoral area and has many multi-purpose plants.

 

Its topography has contributed to the diversity of its plants and trees, of which the most famous is Salsola, also known as Caroxylon imbricatum.

 

This evergreen shrub is a summer plant of the Salsola vermiculata genus, which grows in the Arabian Peninsula as well as in the deserts and arid regions of southwestern Asia and North Africa.

 

It grows over a meter tall, and its leaves contain an unpleasantly smelling sap. It is one of the preferred pastoral plants for camels in particular.

 

In some places, it has been a tradition to use Salsola for treating skin disorders.

 

Nature reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative have contributed to afforestation and land reclamation, as well as to the restoration of native plants to their habitats.


Czech president begins official visit to Saudi Arabia

Czech president begins official visit to Saudi Arabia
Updated 03 January 2025
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Czech president begins official visit to Saudi Arabia

Czech president begins official visit to Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Jeddah on Thursday as part of his official visit to the Kingdom. The leader was welcomed at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Makkah province. The welcoming committee also included Ali bin Mohammed Al-Qarni, deputy secretary of Jeddah governorate; Maj. Gen. Suleiman bin Omar Al-Tuwaireb, director of Jeddah Police, and Ahmed Abdullah bin Dhafer, director-general of the Royal Protocol Office in Makkah.


Traditional Al-Sadu pattern forms integral part of the Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric

Traditional Al-Sadu pattern forms integral part of the Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric
Updated 03 January 2025
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Traditional Al-Sadu pattern forms integral part of the Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric

Traditional Al-Sadu pattern forms integral part of the Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric
  • Council of Ministers designate 2025 as Year of Handicrafts 

RIYADH: The craft of Al-Sadu is alive across the Kingdom — not only in the depths of the Badia, where the art originated, but also in cities, houses, festivals, exhibitions, events, and art and creative galleries.

Al-Sadu is a popular cultural and civilizational symbol that embodies the distinction of the people of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula.

The “traditional weaving of Al-Sadu” was included in 2020 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A new logo inspired by Al-Sadu has been launched for the Riyadh Expo 2030.

The Saudi Council of Ministers designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, in order to highlight traditional Saudi crafts and craftsmen.

The raw materials used in Al-Sadu are abundantly found in the Kingdom’s desert. They include goat hair, wool from sheep, and camel fuzz. 

Bedouin women mastered the craft, and it was utilized in building Bedouin tents and meeting the needs of families with furnishings such as bedspreads and covers.

The Al-Sadu process goes through several phases. It starts with cutting the wool, sorting it, and then washing it using certain substances, such as soap or ash, to rid it of any plant matter or thorns.

The material is then dried, spun into yarn, and then dyed in natural colors extracted from plants and trees’ peels and roots, such as saffron and henna. Traditional Al-Sadu colors are black, white, red, and brown.

The pieces are then decorated with embroidery, ornaments, and creative art paintings of geometric patterns such as rectangles, circles, triangles and other distinctive forms, many of which symbolize details and connotations associated with the Bedouin.

To knit the threads and weave these unique pieces, craftswomen use the spindle, the loom, and wooden equipment such as the menfash, which is a nail-padded wooden weaving tool used to tease the wool after collecting, washing and drying it. This step is followed by the spinning process, which turns the wool into the spun yarn used in the remaining weaving stages.

The Al-Sadu weaving craft enjoys great significance in various regions of the Kingdom, including Jouf, where many artisans and productive families make unique Al-Sadu products.

Al-Sadu artisans are supported by the Jouf Municipality and governmental and non-governmental sectors, including the Maghazil Al-Sadu Association, which organizes many training programs for craftswomen, as well as exhibitions and programs aimed at marketing and familiarizing people with the art.

Dr. Hiam bint Mubarak Al-Buhairan, the association’s chairperson on the board of directors, said: “Al-Sadu is a symbol of Jouf and the Kingdom, and a national and international resource.

“The association works on protecting, developing, documenting and achieving the sustainability of Al-Sadu, for present and future generations.”

Al-Buhairan said that the association’s goals included providing professional opportunities for talent; raising awareness in the fashion industry; advising those interested in fashion; providing educational and training opportunities; supporting researchers; and contributing to the development of the sector.

The King Abdulaziz Women’s Society for Social Development in Jouf provides Al-Sadu craftswomen with support and training as part of the Made in Saudi project.