Noor Riyadh, one of the most exciting and ambitious festivals of light and art in the world, unveiled a special light installation that connects the two historical cities of Riyadh and Rome, among other special artworks that are on display until 19 November. The interactive artwork by Quiet Ensemble brings the two capitals together through a fascinating system of cameras and microphones.
Founded in 2009 by Fabio di Salvo and Bernardo Vercelli, Quiet Ensemble revolves around a system of cameras and microphones set up around two light and video installations — One is in King Abdullah Park in Riyadh, the other is in Rome. Nouf AlMoneef, the Noor Riyadh program manager, says the interactive and interconnective work turns Riyadh into the epicenter of this new artistic installation. “The installations will broadcast an abstracted livestream of the area around the site, so that visitors in the Saudi capital can see those in the Italian capital, and vice versa,” she adds.
Visitors can enjoy the broadcasts of this incredibly thoughtful piece of work every evening from 6pm to 1am until the close of the Noor Riyadh festival. Vertical Horizon is one of over 190 artworks and more than 500 activities taking place at the second edition of Noor Riyadh, held under the theme ‘We Dream of New Horizons’.
Photo © Noor Riyadh 2022, a Riyadh Art program
Other incredible artworks include Quinze’s 16-meter-high installation, spanning 40 meters wide, which places observers in an open-air museum where public art seems larger than life. The power of colors is strongly reflected in this aluminum light installation, which makes a clear statement that the effervescence of all spectrums of light is needed in our society.
AXION by German artist Bauder, meanwhile, explores the ultimate horizon: outer space. Created specifically for deserts and other dusty environments, AXION’S sprawling array of mirrors and spherical objects makes it look like a giant scientific device for space exploration or particle detection. But once inside, it is a reflection on the potential of axions — a hypothetical elementary particle — dark matter, and the idea of the unknown.
Artist Saad Al Howede shares how art for him is all about the human experience. “As an artist, I look at the human experience. I have tried to offer everything I can to help people and the participants of this initiative to get the support they need and to carry their lessons through life.” In Al Howede’s ‘The High Sky’, towering light sculptures of flowers speak to underappreciated talents that could rise and bloom if recognized within an open and inclusive society.
The comprehensive public program of Noor Riyadh includes 10 live music performances scheduled throughout the festival’s duration. The music series can be heard at King Abdullah Park, and tickets can be booked free of charge on NoorRiyadh.sa.
Engaging guided tours of the five hubs — King Abdullah Park, Salam Park, Diplomatic Quarter, JAX District, and KAFD — are another way to immerse yourself in Noor Riyadh. Each tour will delve into the stories behind impressive artworks, including Amplexus by Grimanesa Amoros and Flightgraf’s immersive An Imaginative World.
Workshops are key components as well and participants can venture into performance art, experiment with photographic and video techniques, and learn how to make their own camera obscura. Elsewhere, creative experiences such as artist-led tours, an artistic hunt, and even a four-day collaborative installation activity are also available.
Talks and panel discussions in both Arabic and English will take place throughout the festival, with topics ranging from technology in art to lucid dreaming.
Open to all, Noor Riyadh will take place across five main city hubs and 40 locations in the Saudi capital. Noor Riyadh aims to donate all the funds raised through ticket sales to charitable causes.
By Hermoine Macura-Noble
The first Australian English speaking News Anchor in the Middle East. She is also the Author of Faces of the Middle East and Founder of US-based 501c3 charity – The House of Rest which helps to ease the suffering of victims of war. For more from our Contributing Editor, you can follow her on Instagram, here.
