Saudi contemporary artist Zahrah Al-Ghamdi has been announced as the winner of the 2023-24 Hayy Jameel Facade Commission. Currently serving as a professor of visual art and design at the University of Jeddah, Al-Ghamdi's exceptional talent caught the attention of an international jury, who selected her to produce a big work of public art on a 25-meter canvas located in front of the Jeddah structure.
Her proposed piece, aptly titled "The Cell," promises to showcase her unique style of seamlessly fusing art with its environment, a hallmark of her artistic vision. Her selection brought excitement, pride, and anxiety, with the pressure to meet expectations and maintain creativity.
Al-Ghamdi has aspirations for her art that transcend ethnic and cultural differences; she wants to develop a worldwide idea that appeals to individuals from all walks of life. Her vision is to touch the thoughts and emotions of people universally, making her artwork an immersive and meaningful experience for all who encounter it.
The unveiling of Al-Ghamdi's façade design is set to take place in December, eagerly anticipated by art enthusiasts and the public alike. Nora Razian, deputy director of arts at Art Jameel, expressed enthusiasm about the Hayy Jameel Facade Commission, describing it as an annual program that promotes a relationship between the Jeddah community and its artistic sector. Over 50 ideas were submitted in response to this year's competitive open request, and the jury decisively selected Al-Ghamdi's design, "The Cell," because of its audacious vision, expansive material experimentation, and ability to turn the facade into an impressive aesthetic show.
The jury, comprising influential figures from the art world, including Saudi artist Manal Al-Dowayan, Tate Modern's curator of international art Nabila Abdel Nabi, and The Met Museum's chair of modern and contemporary arts Sheena Wagstaff, also gave special recognition to the shortlisted proposals of Basmah Felemban, Abeer Sultan, Mubarak Mahdi, and Sarah Al-Abdali for their exceptional aesthetic achievements and creative strategies.
With the Hayy Jameel Facade Commission program, Jeddah's urban environment will be forever changed by the unique chance given to individuals or groups of artists to publicly display their work. The current exhibit, "The Face of the City" by previous awardee Mohammed Alfaraj, will remain on display until December, providing an immersive artistic journey for all visitors to the creative complex. With Al-Ghamdi's exceptional talent, "The Cell" is expected to further elevate the program's reputation for supporting innovative public art and nurturing the creative community.
