Contemporary art and creative movements are on the rise in Saudi Arabia, driven by the country’s artists, galleries, and, of course, curators. Across the Kingdom, the continuous and collective efforts by curators have been an integral part of bringing Saudi contemporary art to the forefront of the local and international scenes. Let’s get to know two of the country’s most distinguished curators:
Hamza Serafi
A seasoned gallerist and curator, Serafi has been involved with the art movement in Saudi Arabia since the mid 90s and is known as one of the country’s pioneers of the art gallery movement. Co-founder of the renowned ATHR Gallery and one of the founders of the Saudi Art Council, it may come as a surprise to know that Serafi, a conceptual artist whose works touch on the socio-political, is actually self-taught.
Speaking recently to Buro247.com, Serafi expressed his outlook regarding the contemporary art scene in Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom goes through a transformative phase in its social and economic development: “Spirits are lifted in a time of positive change, particularly those of the artist, so it is indeed an exciting time for Saudi Arabia but more so for the artists. More material is available for artists, which was not available before. Artists are normally spectators; they question and analyse and then express situations through their works and sometimes, good artists can actually foresee the future and that is what's most exciting.”
Raneen Bukhari
Bukhari’s life has been all about art since the she turned three. According to Huffington Post, her parents founded Desert Designs Art Gallery in Al Khobar, and ever since then Bukhari has been involved in every discussion and decision-making process. As part of the gallery, she created and curates LOUD Art, along with co-organizer of Huna Art, a platform for casual art talk
She is also one of six Saudi women in the Contemporary Collective who, last year, curated for the first time a show featuring 27 artworks from British Council Collection never before seen in Saudi Arabia, including pieces by Yinka Shonibare, Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, Cornelia Parker, and Ryan Gander.
Speaking to Khaleejesque.com, Bukhari explained that her “involvement in the art world is a labor of love […] The gallery is a social experiment of sorts and a great way to get exposure and new customers. We’ve created a family rather than just a business model with the gallery space. It’s a great joy working with art, and I’ve just dipped my toes into its waters.”
