Founder of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement Safeya Binzagr dies at 84
Founder of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement Safeya Binzagr dies at 84/node/2571140/lifestyle
Founder of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement Safeya Binzagr dies at 84
Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr, best known as the pioneer of the Kingdom’s fine art movement, died on Thursday and will be buried tomorrow after Friday prayers. She was 84. (X/@alekhbariyatv)
Founder of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement Safeya Binzagr dies at 84
Pioneer forged a path of opportunities for many artists to follow
Her first exhibition was in 1968
Updated 13 September 2024
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr, best known as the pioneer of the Kingdom’s fine art movement, died on Thursday and will be buried tomorrow after Friday prayers. She was 84.
Jeddah and Our Sweet Days Foundation mourned her death in an obituary post on X saying: “With great sadness and sorrow, Jeddah and Our Sweet Days Foundation mourns the esteemed professor Safeya Binzagr, who passed away today Sept. 12, 2024. Prayers will be held for her tomorrow, immediately after Friday prayers, at Al-Jafali Mosque, and her body will be buried in the cemetery of Umna Hawwa.”
Born in 1940, Binzagr forged a path of opportunities for many artists to follow.
Along with her friend, Mounirah Mosly, she was one of two female artists to hold the first art exhibition in the Kingdom in 1968.
Born in Jeddah, Binzagr began her education in Cairo, completed high school education, and spent three years at a finishing school in England. In 1976 she obtained a diploma in art and design at Central Saint Martins, London.
In 1964 in Jeddah, Binzagr witnessed the rapid changes impacting all aspects of life, in clothes, customs and habits. She began her artistic journey inspired to record social history, traditions and folklore.
Her first exhibition was in 1968. Binzagr authored the books “Saudi Arabia: An Artist’s View of the Past” and “A Three-Decade Journey with Saudi Heritage.”
In 1995, she established “Darat Safeya Binzagr,” a cultural center containing her artwork, cultural collection, studio, and an art and literature library.
She was honored in 2017 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz for her contribution to Saudi art and culture with the King Abdulaziz Medal-First Class.
‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ headed to Tokyo this month
Updated 11 November 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Following performances in Paris, Mexico City, New York and London, the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” will bring its musical showcase to Tokyo on Nov. 22. The event – to be held at the Tokyo Opera City – marks a celebration of the Kingdom’s musical heritage and a collaboration with Japan, uniting diverse traditions through the universal language of music.
The evening will feature the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir performing alongside the Gagaku Orchestra Imperial Court Music of Japan and the Orchestra Academy of Tokyo College of Music.
The program will encompass traditional Saudi compositions and classical Japanese pieces, highlighting the depth and diversity of both nations’ musical legacies. A special guest performance by renowned Japanese guitarist HOTEI will further enhance this evening of musical synergy.
Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Music Commission, said in a statement, “Music has a unique ability to transcend borders and create connections. Through the ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra,’ we are thrilled to share the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia with the world, fostering deeper understanding and friendship through shared artistry.”
Organized by the Saudi Music Commission, one of the eleven cultural commissions under the Ministry of Culture, the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” global tour embodies Saudi Arabia’s commitment to cultural exchange and musical excellence.
Oscar winner Viola Davis to be honored at Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival
Updated 11 November 2024
Arab News
JEDDAH: Academy Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis and Egyptian star Mona Zaki will be honored at this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, set to run from Dec. 5-15.
The festival’s opening and closing films were also announced at a press conference in the city on Monday.
Johnny Depp-directed “‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness” will be this year’s Awards Night Gala film, while the world premiere of “The Tale of Daye’s Family” by director Karim Shenawy will open the festival.
The fourth edition’s closing film will be “Better Man,” directed, co-written, and co-produced by Michael Gracey. The biopic reimagines the journey of British pop icon Robbie Williams—from boy band fame to tabloid scandal and his return to the spotlight.
‘Art of the Kingdom’ takes contemporary Saudi creations to a global audience
Work of 17 artists showcased to coincide with G20 Summit in Brazil
Honors our past, says Mona Khazindar, advisor at Culture Ministry
Updated 11 November 2024
Afshan Aziz
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission will inaugurate “Art of the Kingdom,’ the country’s first traveling contemporary exhibition, at the historic Paco Imperial building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this week.
The exhibition from Nov. 13 to Jan. 12 runs under the theme “Poetic Illuminations” and seeks to offer international audiences a look at Saudi Arabia’s evolving contemporary art scene.
The exhibition from Nov. 13 to Jan. 12 runs under the theme “Poetic Illuminations.” (Supplied)
Launching to coincide with the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil, “Art of the Kingdom” features the work of 17 artists, each representing a range of generations and styles, with mediums spanning paintings, installations, and video art.
The artists featured are Sara Abuabdallah, Ghada Al-Hassan, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Ahmed Mater, Emy Kat, Ayman Zedani, Shadia Alem, Nasser Al-Salem, Manal Al-Dowayan, Lina Gazzaz, Muhannad Shono, Sarah Brahim, Daniah Alsaleh, Faisal Samra, Filwa Nazer, Moath Alofi, and Ahad Al-Amoudi.
The “Art of the Kingdom” show will travel to Riyadh in early 2025, where it will be showcased at the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art in the JAX district. At the end of the year, it will be presented at the National Museum of China in Beijing.
Launching to coincide with the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil, “Art of the Kingdom” features the work of 17 artists. (Supplied)
Mona Khazindar, advisor at the Ministry of Culture, in a written response to questions from Arab News, stated that the exhibition “is a testament to the profound impact that art has on our understanding of history, culture and community.
“It not only honors our country’s past and collective memory, but also demonstrates the dynamic role art plays in connecting us to our shared identity, inspiring creativity and dialogue for generations to come.”
Curator Diana Wechsler, in her response to questions, said “every exhibition must open new horizons for its audience, offering an experience of discovery and challenging habitual thinking.
The exhibition from Nov. 13 to Jan. 12 runs under the theme “Poetic Illuminations.” (Supplied)
“Exhibitions, to me, are also experiences of knowledge. This is especially important here, as this exhibition is the first to showcase a group of contemporary Saudi artists abroad.
She added: “The exhibition is the result of extensive research from which its central themes emerged. I visited many artists, most of them based in Saudi Arabia, and engaged in deep conversations about each artist’s creative experience.
“It was an immensely stimulating journey for me, and I hope this exhibition provides viewers with a similar path of understanding through its selected works.”
Through “Art of the Kingdom,” the museums authority aims to empower Saudi artists by highlighting their work globally. (Supplied)
Wechsler chose Nasser Al-Salem’s “Arabi/Gharbi” (“Arab/Foreigner”), with its large neon Arabic script, to both open and close the exhibition.
Wechsler explained: “This piece offers viewers both a question and a clue: what does this neon signify? It creates a symbolic boundary between the contemporary Saudi experience and the cultural framework of the audience.
“Through each piece, the exhibition unfolds like a revelation — a poetic illumination — exploring various facets of a captivating culture where past and present, tradition and transformation, are interwoven.
“Arriving at the end of this journey and encountering Al-Salem’s neon again, I imagine the audience will see it differently, their horizons broadened by the journey they have taken.”
Through “Art of the Kingdom,” the museums authority aims to empower Saudi artists by highlighting their work globally. It also seeks to establish the nation’s presence in the global art landscape, and foster cross-cultural appreciation and dialogue.
Launching to coincide with the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil, “Art of the Kingdom” features the work of 17 artists. (Supplied)
The exhibition centers on two primary themes: the desert as a symbol of vastness, infinity, and life’s depth, and the singularity of Saudi cultural traditions as seen through the evolution of visual culture.
Artist Muhannad Shono said: “As Saudi Arabia now invests in its arts and cultural expression, and strives to invite the world in, it’s important that this cultural dialogue does not flow in one direction, but to also reach outwards in an honest and equal exchange of ideas with the world.
“My role is to continue to express and imagine, not only in my country but beyond its borders … bypassing the perceived lines that separate us and divide.”
Artists Sara Abu Abdallah and Ghada Al-Hassan, a mother and daughter team, are presenting a collaborative piece.
In a joint written response, they said their work, “Horizontal Dimensions,” explores “intergenerational complicity, the notion of home, urban transformation, and shared dreams and visions, bridging personal history with contemporary dialogue.
“As mother and daughter, we have always shared a creative bond, and this project allowed us to combine our voices and artistic visions to express something greater than the sum of its parts.
“By presenting this work at such a significant exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, we hope to contribute to the global conversation on cultural exchange and the evolving narratives of our region.”
‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ gets new trailer from Netflix
Updated 11 November 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Netflix dropped its thrilling first full trailer for its latest sports doc series, “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” coming to the streamer on Nov. 21. The docuseries will take football fans behind the scenes of a league with the ambition to become one of the top leagues in the world.
The six-episode series, produced by Whisper, delves into the journey of five Saudi football clubs, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Etiffaq, as they compete to be crowned Saudi Pro League champions.
Fans will witness Ronaldo’s impact on Al-Nassr, as he drives the team with his relentless pursuit of victory, Karim Benzema’s journey as he responds to the challenge of a new reality at Al-Ittihad and the twists and tension at Al-Hilal surrounding Neymar’s injury, revealing how the club and fans rally through the setbacks.
The series also follows Steven Gerrard’s ambitious leadership at Al-Ettifaq, as he strives to restore the club’s former glory while Al-Ahli, under the guidance of Matthias Jaissle, sets its sights on Asian Champions League qualification, fueled by a comeback spirit after their 2022 relegation.
Meanwhile, the established and rising local talent like Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Feras Al-Buraikan (Al-Ahli), Talal Haji (Al-Ittihad), and Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al-Nassr) are determined to make their mark amid the influx of global stars, showcasing the depth and passion of Saudi football’s next generation.
Featuring exclusive interviews from some of the world’s best players, managers and commentators, along with in-depth stories and highlights from the campaign, the series will offer fans backstage access to the developments shaping the future of the Saudi Pro League.
Rita Ora flaunts Saudi label at MTV Europe Music Awards
Updated 11 November 2024
Arab News and AFP
DUBAI: British singer Rita Ora hosted the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester on Sunday, and she hit the red carpet before the show in a suitably loud look by Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi.
Hailing from his label Ashi Studio’s Fall/ Winter 2024 Couture line, the peach gown featured strands of hair-like tassels that enveloped Ora on the red carpet.
Rita Ora hit the red carpet before the show in a suitably loud look by Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi. (AFP)
Ashi’s Fall/ Winter 2024 Couture line is called “Sculpted Clouds” — it was showcased at Paris Haute Couture Week in June.
Ashi became the first couturier from the Gulf to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift led the way at the awards show in Manchester on Sunday, picking up four awards on a night dominated by female artists, including Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter, AFP reported.
Video screens display US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift accepting the award for best video during the MTV Europe Music Awards. (AFP)
The ceremony's 30th edition, which brought the biggest names in world music to northwest England, saw Swift take home trophies for best artist, best live, best US act and best video for her collaboration with Post Malone in "Fortnight."
In a pre-recorded message, Swift expressed sadness for not being able to attend in person but said the honor was "just unbelievable".
Tyla won three awards, including for best R&B, while Carpenter won for best song.
Swift, whose ongoing "Eras" tour is the most lucrative in history, was nominated in seven categories following the release this year of her 11th album "The Tortured Poets Department," according to AFP.
In the best artist category she went up against compatriots Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Post Malone, and British star Raye, who won a record six gongs at this year's Brit Awards. Carpenter, one of the stars of the summer with her hit "Please Please Please," completed the list of nominees.
While Swift won that category, Carpenter's "Espresso" took best song, outshining Eilish's "Birds of a Feather", Beyonce's "Texas Hold 'Em," "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone, Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!" and "We Can't Be Friends" by Ariana Grande.
As with the US music industry's Grammy awards, Latino artists, including stars such as Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and Colombian Karol G were left out of the top categories this year despite their global hits.
Both were contenders in the best Latin field, alongside Shakira, who has revived her career with the hit "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", about her separation from ex-footballer Gerard Pique.
