RIYADH: Diriyah Art Futures, a new media arts hub, has announced a series of hands-on workshops and masterclasses in April for children, youths and adults.
The program runs alongside its fourth major exhibition — “Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies” — which concludes on May 16.
Curated by Irini Papadimitriou, director of exhibitions at DAF, the exhibition explores how relationships with the natural world are being reshaped in the digital age.
Designed for artists, enthusiasts and younger audiences, the April program includes sessions on digital fabrication, watercolor and performance art.
Events begin on April 10 with a bilingual youth workshop in Arabic and English from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at which participants aged 13 to 18 can explore the intersection of sound, technology and nature in an interactive format.
“Print, Cut, Collage: Exploring AI in Mixed Media,” on April 11, examines the role of artificial intelligence in artistic practice.
Participants will create digital compositions using AI-generated imagery before transforming them into physical works through collage, layering and eco-printing with botanical materials.
This will be followed by “Prints From Nature,” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in which participants will experiment with printmaking using organic materials such as leaves, fruits and vegetables, encouraging observation and engagement with natural textures.
“Between Land and Stars,” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., will explore the night sky as both a living system and an early form of technology.
Through storytelling and discussion, participants will examine how Arab communities historically used the stars for navigation, seasonal tracking and daily life.
DAF will host a two-day masterclass on April 24-25 titled “Material Literacy: The Date Palm,” running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The session will invite participants to reconsider materials as carriers of identity, culture and memory, with a focus on the date palm as a significant ecological and cultural system across food, craft and architecture.
The program concludes on April 25 with a workshop on mold-making using 3D printing, which is being held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Those participating will learn to design and print molds while exploring the traditional technique of clay slip casting to create customized ceramic pieces.
More information is available on DAF’s official website. Advance registration will be offered via social media channels, with tickets available at the door.
