Saudi contemporary artist Sultan bin Fahad discusses his favorite works 

Saudi contemporary artist Sultan bin Fahad discusses his favorite works 
Sultan bin Fahad is a Riyadh-born, New York-based contemporary artist. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 September 2024
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Saudi contemporary artist Sultan bin Fahad discusses his favorite works 

Saudi contemporary artist Sultan bin Fahad discusses his favorite works 
  • ‘My medium is storytelling,’ says Sultan bin Fahad

DUBAI: The Riyadh-born, New York-based contemporary artist Sultan bin Fahad has been creating artworks since childhood. But, he says, he didn’t know that’s what he was doing for a long time.  

“I always felt like I had a certain creativity in me,” he tells Arab News. “I was making what I called ‘things.’ But it was a hobby, you know? I thought it was like interior design — decorating my room. I didn’t know it could be considered art.” 

At the time, bin Fahad was focused on building a career in the navy and on taekwondo. He had realistic hopes of competing in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, he says. But a series of injuries put paid to both of those dreams, and left him wondering what to do next.  

He ended up studying business in San Francisco, where his accommodation was close to an art academy.  




(Supplied)

“I’d pass by and see their work; that was the first time I was exposed to modern and contemporary art. And I realized, ‘Oh. So whatever I’ve been doing is probably considered some sort of art.’” He laughs. “That’s how I became aware of my ability to create artworks.” 

He has become known particularly for his intricate and colorful beaded works, often created by artisans from the Hausa tribe in Nigeria.  

“They have an interesting story,” he says. “They are Muslims, they study the Qur’an. But they kept the language of their tribe. They know all about Saudi. You can actually find descendants of the same tribe in Jeddah and Makkah. Back in the day, they travelled or went for Hajj and they never left. They stayed there for three or four generations.”  

Beyond the physical side of his work, however, he says the most important thing is that each piece tells a story.  

“I always say my medium is storytelling. I hate it when you show someone something and they say, ‘OK, what am I looking at?’ That means you definitely failed to show any emotion in your work. Like, I still make abstract paintings, and there is basically nothing to say about them. But people forget that there is an emotion when you look at something: you might feel happy, you might feel sad, you might be attracted to the colors. But if you look at any piece and you don’t get any idea in the first 10 seconds, then I failed.” 

Here, bin Fahad talks us through some of his most significant works. 

‘Delights III’ 

This series, “Delights,” came about during COVID lockdowns. I collect a lot of found objects, because they inspire me. I’d found these small gift boxes that used to have candy or nuts in. They come with different phrases on them, like, “May your day be filled with happiness and joy.” And there’s always a picture of shaking hands. The handshake is a universal gesture. And during COVID, we didn’t have that. People didn’t shake hands. Some people didn’t even see anyone. It was a dark time. So I thought, “OK, what if we had something in people’s homes, to give joy and a little hope?” First of all, I did a series of beaded works, and they were shown in an online art fair. Then this friend of mine who is a carpet maker had the idea of making carpets designed by artists from the GCC. And they chose me to represent Saudi. So, I designed this carpet. It’s this whole concept of hopeful, beautiful work that you can see every day and can give you good energy. It’s not an artwork; it’s part of the house. It’s living with you. 

‘Desert Kite’ 

This was created for Desert X AlUla. AlUla is so beautiful. You can’t compete with it. So I wanted something that would basically separate you from the environment; something with walls, so you don’t know what’s around you and you can basically listen to the environment — to silence. 

I have this fascination with history and heritage. There are these very interesting structures around the north west of Saudi and the south of Jordan: desert kites. The first time they discovered them was, I think, during World War Two. They were flying over them. You only can see them from above. And I wondered what their purpose was. Some people say that they’re prehistoric animal traps from thousands of years ago, so my intention was to create something telling that story, so that little blue-green object inside? That’s like the bait — food or water. That makes the animal go inside. Then they’re trapped. And inside the sculpture (on the walls) are a lot of mythical animals: the Medusa, the eagle, the Sphinx — and they’re all trapped in there too. And inside you can sit and actually listen to silence, which is very unusual in a place that is open like that. It’s very interesting. 

One thing I really liked with this work was people’s interpretation of it. A lot of people said it looked like a keyhole — so it was the key to another culture or civilization; or it was the key between the sky and the Earth. I liked how people became their own curator. I’m happy to have people interpret my work the way they see it — as long as they get something out of it.  

‘Window’ 

This was for my project “The Red Palace.” It’s one of my dearest projects. It made me comfortable with what I’m doing. This was my first real installation work, and my first time really doing something conceptual — almost like theater. And it was my first project with the Hausa artisans. And it’s dear to me because it’s a building I was really inspired by — I always used to walk past it as a kid and I always loved it. It defined architecture in Riyadh and it’s central to the history of Saudi Arabia, whether as a royal palace or as a government building. Everything from the Forties or Fifties to the Nineties was run from that palace.  

The whole idea started with Diriyah Season. They wanted to do an exhibition, and I had this idea of doing a performance called “The Royal Dinner.” During that time, King Saud had three chefs, and they’d have a set menu. People think that, in Saudi Arabia at that time, it was all Bedouin. But no, we had sophistication. But nobody talks about it, and it’s not in in books. So I wanted to recreate this royal banquet to celebrate those behind the scenes; the labor that people don’t know about. I submitted this idea to the Ministry of Culture, and they approved it. So then I went and visited the palace, and I was like, “OK, this is much bigger than my idea, why don’t we expand it?” So we did a lot more, including “Window,” which has actually now been acquired by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. It’s another dear work to me, because each window was reclaimed from a region of the Kingdom. And it’s backlit, so it shows you how beautiful it would feel to be in those houses with those windows. And it unifies all the regions into one. Like a lot of my work, it’s also nostalgic. When you see those windows, you think back: “Oh, I remember the time when we were kids and playing here and there.”  

‘Trust’ 

These chairs were thrones for my “Red Palace” project. When I was looking into doing some beaded work — I wanted to do something in Africa, generally — I didn’t know how to get a contact. I saw I had an Instagram follower from Nigeria. I had no idea who she was. I just DM’d her, and asked if she knew anyone who could make beading work in Nigeria. She said she didn’t, but she could look into it. And she found someone. I showed them what I wanted to do — this was for “The Red Palace” — and while I was doing that, she messaged me and said: ‘Can I ask you a question? Why did you trust me to do this?’ I said, ‘Well, if you want something done, you have to trust someone.” Otherwise I’d have to have travelled myself, you know? When I told the curator this story, she said, “We have to call that piece ‘Trust.’” Because that’s what it was based on. This collaborative work we did, with workmanship like this, they don’t know how to create something new; they just work on what they know — they bead chairs traditionally. I needed to see if they could do it the way I wanted it to be. But that first collaboration led to a lot of other pieces, because they were open to the idea of doing it in a different form. That’s where the trust came from.  

‘Masallaci’ 

This work is very dear to me. It’s a giving-back-to-the-community work. It’s a beautiful story. During the time when I was doing “The Red Palace” and “Trust,” the Hausa people that were working with me, they work in a village next to Abuja in Nigeria. When they have work, they travel there from their villages and they rent part of the place they’re working in for accommodation. I asked them where they prayed. It kind of made me feel like responsible, like I needed to support the community that was working for me. So, I asked them to decorate part of the place they were working in as a mosque — in their own way, their own traditions, their own language; the writing you see is the Hausa language, not Arabic — in exchange for me renting the space for them, to pray and live and work, for a whole year. Everything inside the mosque is beaded, except the floor. Even the furniture. And they sent a turban for me — you can see it in the picture, a little white turban. The imam of the mosque in Nigeria wears this turban, so this was their gift for me. It’s one of my favorite works. And it was really a collaboration; they designed it themselves, I just gave them the idea. 

‘Laser’ 

This project was called “GWPOW” — which stands for Gulf War Prisoners of War. It’s about the Gulf War, but it’s also relevant to what’s happening now in Gaza. It’s about how life is stolen from kids who become soldiers when they’re supposed to be playing and living. They don’t take the decision, somebody else does.  

I was 19 during the first Gulf War. I wanted to volunteer but I couldn’t, because of my injuries — I’d just had my second knee surgery. So I ended up volunteering as a translator. I went and saw the prisoners of war. Some of them were younger than me. They were, like, 16. They didn’t know what they were fighting for. They were just pushed into the war.  

So this project was about the war, but it’s also thinking about those kids. They were supposed to be playing, not fighting. So I was thinking, ‘How can I portray those kids living during that time, in the desert, waiting to fight or to be killed?’ So this project became, like, a playroom for grownups. A recreation center in a war zone — everything is kind of childish. This is one of maybe six paintings I did as part of it, along with beaded works. It’s a pencil drawing, but there’s some collage on it, and some abstract painting, and some ink, so it’s mixed media. So the guy holding the lightsaber, that helmet looks like Darth Vader, but it’s not. It’s the helmet of Saddam Hussein’s Fedayeen corps. And I imagined these kids thinking of being a superhero.  

‘Possession’ 

I saw these people at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. At certain times they open it for women, and they allow people to go privately. I was there with my mom and my family and there were screens, and there were these ladies touching the screens. And to me, it felt like, for them, they were in the highest stage of being possessed by religion, in a good way. Feeling invulnerable. They felt like they are connecting with the Prophet. I mean, I don’t know what it meant to them. I don’t know why they were doing it, but it felt so passionate. And it touched me. I felt like, if it gives them satisfaction, let them do it. It felt surreal to me — but I felt their passion.  

‘Once Was A Ruler’ 

This is a combination of different antiquities that were in the National Museum. I was working there at the time. I wanted to talk about something that is taboo. A lot of people think that these pieces are statues of gods. That’s why they’re hidden away. But at that time, these civilizations were not making big sculptures of their gods, they were making them of themselves. They were a sign of power. So I made it look like an X-ray, and I put human bones on it to show that they are human. They were once a ruler, yes, but a person, not a god.  

‘R III’ 

“R III” means Ramses the Third. I did this in Egypt, at the Pyramids of Giza. Like with AlUla, this is a place I am in awe of. Like, I can’t compete with nature or with history, so I tried to work with it, complementing the place without actually trying to put my force or my creative energy in it. I was humbled in these places. So, I can’t compete with the Pyramids, but I tried to make something inspired by them. When you look at it from above, you see it has the seal of Ramses the Third. That seal has been found near AlUla, and that means he was probably there — not for fighting, but probably exploring, looking for copper or something — because the pharaohs wouldn’t usually let their seals be carried by others. So I wanted to show this bridge between Ancient Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  


Jeddah spans tradition and modernity in new book exploring themes of cultural preservation

Jeddah spans tradition and modernity in new book exploring themes of cultural preservation
Updated 27 February 2025
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Jeddah spans tradition and modernity in new book exploring themes of cultural preservation

Jeddah spans tradition and modernity in new book exploring themes of cultural preservation
  • Novel examines balance between cultural preservation and urban transformation
  • ‘The cats of Jeddah serve as a metaphor for the city’s enduring spirit’

RIYADH: While the falcon and camel are the creatures most associated with Arabia’s skies and deserts, cats have long captivated the hearts of the people, historically and religiously.

In his new novel, “City of Cats,” Rafael Hernandez de Santiago sets his narrative in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, exploring where the past and future collide during urban transformation.

“City of Cats” follows Amir, an architect torn between the love he has for his city’s heritage and the push toward modernization. He and his allies face resistance from powerful, money-hungry developers as they propose a cultural park to protect one of Jeddah’s historic districts.

Hernandez draws the comparison that cats represent the soul of a city. Speaking to Arab News at his book launch hosted at the Spanish Embassy on Tuesday, he said: “The cats of Jeddah serve as a metaphor for the city’s enduring spirit, quietly witnessing and adapting to its ever-changing landscape.”

The novel delves into themes of preservation versus progress, communal unity, and resilience of tradition in the face of relentless modernization.

Hernandez is a director and senior researcher at the Gulf Research Center and a prominent newspaper columnist who regularly writes on matters relating to politics, international relations, and data and AI.

Of his reasons for delving into the world of fiction writing, Hernandez said, contrary to the straight edge of fact and policy analysis that his columns require, fiction allows for a more interactive curiosity on complex issues and more emotional engagement.

“Instead of debating urban development and cultural preservation through articles, I wanted readers to feel the impact of these changes through the eyes of characters living through them.”

The Spanish citizen, who has lived in Saudi Arabia for almost 25 years, said that from the ancient Nabatean city of AlUla to the rise of modern metropolises such as Riyadh, the Kingdom balances rich traditions and heritage stories with an ambitious vision for the future, making it a compelling setting for a novel.

“My time here has given me a deep appreciation for its history, traditions, and the unique identity of its cities.

“The experience of witnessing Jeddah’s evolution firsthand played a significant role in shaping the story of ‘City of Cats,’” he said.

Hernandez said that Jeddah is a city where history and modernity coexist side by side. Al-Balad, its historic district, carries stories of merchants, travelers, and families through the generations, who give it a distinct identity. Yet it is constantly evolving, with new skyscrapers and developments.

“While Spain has its own rich history and cities undergoing similar transformations, Jeddah’s story feels particularly urgent. It’s a city at a crossroads, and I wanted to capture that moment.”

Hernandez spoke about how Jeddah acting as Makkah’s gateway gives it a unique character. And that characteristic furnishings, from coral stone houses to intricate mashrabiya windows, reflect the story of the Red Sea and its maritime trade routes.

Contrary to Jeddah’s openness and free-flowing nature, Riyadh’s soul mirrors that of a wise and progressive leader who still stands strong in his structure and heritage, according to Hernandez.

“Like the stray cats that roam both cities, their souls are defined by their ability to survive, adapt, and persist despite the changes around them,” he said.

“City of Cats” is available in English, with Arabic and Spanish translations expected to follow.

Hernandez hopes to turn the novel into a musical one day, as the arts and entertainment scene in the Kingdom rapidly grows.

“The story lends itself beautifully to the format … Musicals are a celebration of storytelling, culture, and emotion — and Saudi Arabia is overflowing with stories and traditions waiting to be expressed in new, creative ways.”

He said that if Saudi Arabia were to start producing musicals, it would open the door for local talent; composers, lyricists, set designers, and actors who are eager to share their creativity with the world.


‘Souk Wonders’ to give final performances as show nears end

‘Souk Wonders’ to give final performances as show nears end
Updated 27 February 2025
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‘Souk Wonders’ to give final performances as show nears end

‘Souk Wonders’ to give final performances as show nears end
  • Ghada Sheri: ‘We have been doing it for a month now and we have done 33 shows and it’s been amazing’
  • Sheri: ‘I get to sing to people every day and see their reactions and I share the stage with amazing performers’

RIYADH: Diriyah Season’s “Souk Wonders,” featuring trampolines, circus acrobatics, musical entertainment, balancing acts, and a variety of culinary experiences will come to a close on Friday.

“We have been doing it for a month now and we have done 33 shows and it’s been amazing — honestly, I love it here and I am really sad for it to be over,” Ghada Sheri, a singer and songwriter, told Arab News.

“I get to sing to people every day and see their reactions and I share the stage with amazing performers as well so that has been amazing,” she said.

“Souk Wonders” features traditional Najdi architecture, tents, a majlis, and an oversized marketplace scale that spins as guests are seated on it.

The performances kick off with a daring show featuring performers jumping off the edges of the traditional Najdi structures towards the crowd and onto a trampoline.

The routines come back-to-back, leaving audience members anticipating which way to turn next.

Carina Pires, a nurse from Portugal, has lived in the Kingdom for 12 years, and attended “Souk Wonders” with her friends.

“It’s been amazing. We have just been mesmerized. We don’t know where to look, it’s been so many things with so many emotions, it’s really good,” Pires told Arab News.

“It was amazing, I have been experiencing things here that I didn’t in my country,” she added.

When asked what her favorite part of the show was, Pires said: “Everything was amazing, I cannot point to one, it was everything.”

A unique feature of “Souk Wonders” is the currency. Although real money can be used, visitors are taken back in time as they are presented with gold Diriyah Season coins to make their purchases.

For example, a water bottle would cost guests 1 coin, with each coin valued at SR5 ($1.33). A regular ticket gives visitors 18 coins, and the platinum ticket allows for 24.

Along with live performances, “Souk Wonders” has restaurant and cafe booths that feature unique dishes that pay tribute to traditional flavors with modern-day twists all crafted by Saudi chefs especially brought in to design the menu for the event.

Saudi chef Samira Jan was the mind behind the Sand of Zaatar booth, featuring flavors from the Levant region, including a Palestinian musakhan tart as well as a sweet Syrian basbousa tart.

Other Saudi-crafted creations included soft drinks and mixed mocktails at Al Bar booth.

One unique feature of “Souk Wonders” is the interactive performances from the actors of the who remained in character throughout whilst interacting with guests.

“Souk Wonders” will put on its final shows on Feb. 28 at 7:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and then at 10:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. in Venue before coming to a close for Ramadan.


Saudi contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan discusses collaborative performance piece

Saudi contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan discusses collaborative performance piece
Thikra_ Night of Remembering by Manal AlDowayan and Akram Khan. Courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla (1)
Updated 27 February 2025
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Saudi contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan discusses collaborative performance piece

Saudi contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan discusses collaborative performance piece

RIYADH: Saudi contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan unveiled her latest work, “Thikra: Night of Remembering” at the AlUla Arts Festival in late January. 

The site-specific dance piece, designed by AlDowayan in collaboration with renowned English dancer and choreographer Akram Khan — who is of Bangladeshi descent — and residents and artisans from AlUla, was one of the festival’s main highlights. It will now go on to be adapted for various theaters around the world. 

The dance pays homage to the long line of civilizations that have inhabited the land around AlUla over centuries. (Supplied)

AlDowayan told Arab News: “The fact that it’s a fictional story, not tied to a specific time or civilization — it could be none or all at once — makes it something people can easily connect with. There’s a mix of cultures, stories, symbols, and rhythms. Of course, the AlUla landscape had a big influence, along with the collaboration with local musicians, dance elements, crafts, and symbols, but there are also essential elements from other cultures around the world, especially traditional Indian dance reimagined through Akram’s performance, and sound elements from various cultures and even from nature.”  

Over the past few years, AlDowayan has gravitated towards exploring the idea of “othering” in her practice. As she has become more well-known internationally, she says, she’s looking to open up conversations to bridge cultures.  

And she is no stranger to responding to AlUla’s landscape in her work: she’s showcased in the historic city as part of Desert X with her artwork “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t,” and staged a show titled “Their Love is Like All Loves, Their Death is Like All Deaths,” and a participatory exhibition titled “Oasis of Stories: Manal AlDowayan and the People of AlUla” with over 1,000 community participants for Wadi AlFann.  

“Thikra” was inspired by, among other things, AlDowayan’s memories of gathering around a campfire under the starlit sky to tell stories. The performance took place on a circular stage between cliffs. 

“Thikra” was inspired by, among other things, Manal AlDowayan’s memories of gathering around a campfire under the starlit sky to tell stories. (Supplied)

“The audience sits around on traditional Sadu weaving carpets, occupying one half of the circle, while the community occupies the other. In the center, the dancers perform a story about ancestral knowledge,” AlDowayan said.  

The dance pays homage to the long line of civilizations that have inhabited the land around AlUla over centuries, as evidenced by the symbols engraved on rock formations and its varied architecture. 

“I incorporated some of these symbols into the costumes and props to represent the overlapping of different timeframes and the coexistence of rituals and traditions,” AlDowayan explained.  

She based the color pallet of the fabric on the tones of the surrounding landscape and culture; the sandy beige, the red-brown of henna, the pink rocks, night black, and the green of small plants that “emerge between the sand, almost as an act of resistance,” she said.  

AlDowayan worked with the Madrasat Addeera School of Arts and Crafts to produce local, natural pigments for the fabric, adding to her longstanding tradition of collaborating with local artisans.  

The collaboration with Madrasat Addeera had two main aspects: design and fabrication.  

The site-specific dance piece was designed by Manal AlDowayan in collaboration with renowned English dancer and choreographer Akram Khan. (Supplied)

In a participatory workshop with the students, she presented her vision for the visual direction, portrayals of different characters, and her incorporation of local symbology and storytelling in the project. She was also keen to represent the community directly on stage through their designs.  

She said: “I encouraged them to work with these symbols — ones deeply present in their daily lives and crafts — and together we brainstormed the designs. Their input and self-representation was an essential aspect to me.  

“They created more than 50 flag designs, incorporating traditional techniques such as palm weaving, Sadu, embroidery, and clay. The results were incredibly creative and beautiful. I selected a set of designs and slightly reworked them to fit the overall vision.”  

Her studio then commissioned the school to make the flags. “Many of the school’s studios and senior crafters worked together to bring them to life,” AlDowayan said. “I am honored to bring to the global stage not only local stories, but also their own traditional crafts.” Members of the community then paraded these flags as part of the performance. 

AlDowayan described working with Khan as a “gift,” saying: “I have followed and admired his work for a long time. So when I received the invitation to collaborate with him, I was thrilled — but I also wondered how open the creative process would be. 

“From our first research visit to AlUla, the creative connection between us was instant. We immediately understood each other’s vision and actively collaborated on all aspects of the performance with openness and trust, I think because we both admire each other’s work.” 

Forty local participants of all ages volunteered via open call to work with Khan’s legacy team Jumana Al-Refai and Bilal Allaf, who led community movement workshops. They eventually became part of the performance.  

The narrative of the show is “based on the idea that without a past, there is no future. It’s a call for remembrance, told through the story of a community of women and how they preserve and pass down ancestral knowledge,” AlDowayan said. “This is something I first realized during my early visits to AlUla. My education ignored the ancient civilizations of this region, and when these historical sites were finally opened to the public, I was suddenly exposed to all this knowledge through the architecture and rock inscriptions. It was incredibly inspiring to learn that we have deep roots and to discover the traditions, symbols, and way of life of those who came before us.” 


Meet Saudi-Irish DJ-producer Moving Still ahead of the release of his new EP 

Meet Saudi-Irish DJ-producer Moving Still ahead of the release of his new EP 
Updated 27 February 2025
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Meet Saudi-Irish DJ-producer Moving Still ahead of the release of his new EP 

Meet Saudi-Irish DJ-producer Moving Still ahead of the release of his new EP 
  • Jeddah-born Jamal Sul talks to Arab News ahead of the release of his new EP 

JEDDAH: DJ-producer Jamal Sul, aka Moving Still, was raised in Jeddah by a Saudi father and Irish mother, and his music combines both sides of his heritage.  

At 14, he moved to Dublin, a shift that shaped both his identity and musical journey. Now, after a decade in the industry, he’s making waves internationally. 

“For every song that I’ve ever recorded, I always try to embody an emotion—whether it’s unconditional love, fear or excitement,” he tells Arab News. “Most of the time, I never really get a chance to explain the emotion in a song — it just happens through people dancing.” 

The birth of his daughter last year profoundly influenced Sul’s latest EP, “Close to the Shams,” which will be released March 7. On it, he captures the intense emotions of parenthood and the quiet heartbeat of his child, which he used as inspiration. “The first time I got to hold my daughter in my own house, she was just sleeping on me and I had my earphones on. I could sense her heartbeat,” he says. “Weirdly, there’s a lot of studies about how your heart rate can influence your child’s and vice versa. So I feel like I captured that moment in song, and it was really nice.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Fidelity (@fidelitydublin)

It was Sul’s mother who first got him into dance music, sparking his deep connection to house and disco beats. “I was very lucky that my mom was very, very into music,” he says. “I remember (her) cassettes, is like ‘Now 41’ or ‘Now 42’ — basically all the (chart toppers) for dance music. A lot of the stuff I make now is nearly resembling this era.” 

He also has a love for rock, inherited from his Irish uncles. “I listened to (Led) Zeppelin, Jimi (Hendrix), Korn, Slipknot, all those type of bands,” he says. “But even though I liked rock music, I still had this feeling towards dance music; it was kind of like a guilty pleasure, the same with pop music — like Backstreet Boys.” 

His father also shaped Sul’s diverse taste, being a fan of Bob Marley and Michael Jackson, as well as Arab artists. But Sul says his father’s relationship with music was complicated.  

“My father was in and out of music; either he loved it or hated it. And I don’t blame him; he had a very tough upbringing. His father was quite religious — he was an imam. So obviously (my father) was very torn between the life of what people would like in the West versus his actual life.” 

That’s not a struggle Sul has faced. Music is a constant in both his personal and professional life. He works in the field of immunology, and while his day job is rooted in science, music remains his own way of healing and expression. 

His sound spans genres, blending house, disco and Arabic influences. “When people ask what kind of music I make, it’s so hard to pinpoint,” he says. “It’s a mix of genres.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Moving Still (@moving0still)

His tracks have gained support from respected industry figures like Palms Trax, Hunee and Laurent Garnier, and he has performed at the likes of Boiler Room and Electric Picnic. Mixmag named him among its Ones to Watch for 2025. 

His first EP was “With Oud,” inspired not by the instrument at the heart of classical Arab music, but by the scent of the dark resin of the agar tree. “In order to write the music, I would put oud on my hands, just to experience that full memory of my granny’s house. I couldn’t believe that a smell could ignite that type of memory so quickly,” he says. The EP was a success, and spawned a follow-up, “Ouddy Bangers.” 

In 2024, Sul hosted ‘Sukar,’ an event of contemporary Arabic music. “I wanted to showcase our beautiful culture,” he says. He plans to take the idea further with Klub Sukar this April, inviting international acts to Ireland while providing opportunities for emerging artists — especially young Arabs. 

Sul’s moniker, Moving Still, was inspired by his hometown. “I used to love swimming and snorkeling and I used to see a lot of jellyfish there,” he says. “I remember my wife asking what I wanted to be called and I was, like, ‘Something about jellyfish really resonates with me, because it reminds me of Jeddah.’ I just really love that they’re moving all the time, but they almost look like they’re still. That’s what generated the name. I wanted to have something that was like a love letter to Jeddah.” 


Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park

Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park
Updated 26 February 2025
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Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park

Cheetah, lion and buffalo sculptures unveiled in Riyadh park
  • Italian sculptor partners with Riyadh Art and Italian embassy to bring contemporary art to public park
  • Installation aims to bring attention to conservation efforts for species that were once prevalent in the region

RIYADH: Striking animal sculptures were unveiled in Riyadh’s Al-Nafal Park in the Diplomatic Quarter in a collaboration between Riyadh Art and Italian artist Davide Rivalta.

The installation features depictions of a cheetah, lion, lioness and buffalo, and was created in partnership with the Italian Embassy.

Under the theme, Echoes of Land, the sculptures encourage public engagement and contemplation of environmental and cultural heritage.

Omar Al-Braik, senior director of public art at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, said that the collaboration with Rivalta was an “enriching process.”

“Art has the power to transform public spaces, spark conversations and connect people with their surroundings in ways that are both profound and unexpected,” he said.

“By bringing Rivalta’s work to Riyadh, we continue to expand the city’s artistic landscape, ensuring that diverse voices and creative perspectives are accessible to all.”

This installation also brings attention to conservation efforts, particularly for species such as the cheetah, which once thrived in the Arabian Peninsula.

By introducing these sculptures to Riyadh, Rivalta’s work serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and natural ecosystems.

Born in 1974, Davide Rivalta is renowned for his striking, life-sized sculptures of animals, distinguished by their raw, textured surfaces.

Rivalta’s sculptures have been exhibited in cities across the world, with this latest installation marking his first contribution to Riyadh Art’s public art program.

Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has installed in excess of 550 public artworks, engaged more than 500 local and international artists, and hosted 6,500 community engagement activities, attracting 9.6 million visitors and spectators.

One significant initiative by Riyadh Art is the recent Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, in which 30 sculptures were created in live sessions, and will be displayed at public spaces around the city.

The organization’s efforts contribute to Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of enhancing culture and creativity in the Kingdom.