NUEMA: Art in the Valleys of AlUla
NUEMA: The Forgotten Ceremony, an artistic work by Sara Brahim and Ugo Shiavi, presented at the AlUla Arts Festival. Courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
AlUla is an open-air museum, seamlessly blending raw nature with deep-rooted history.
As one strolls through its vast valleys, towering mountains, and precisely sculpted rock formations, there is a sensation of traveling through time, tracing the footsteps of ancient civilizations.
In every relic, valley, and rock carved either by human hands or shaped by the wind, there lies a story waiting to be told.
AlUla stands as a cultural, historical, and artistic destination, filled with breathtaking nature, enchanting history, and modern development.
The modern elements integrate so naturally with the authentic identity that it becomes difficult to distinguish between the past and the present.
Its connection to art goes beyond archaeology, serving as a source of inspiration for contemporary artists. Art is everywhere, woven into the very fabric of its landscapes!
In celebration of art as one of AlUla’s defining pillars, the fourth edition of the AlUla Arts Festival introduced a diverse array of artistic works that have made a lasting impact on the global art scene.
Within the Valley of the Arts, the festival featured exhibitions from pioneering artists in the Light and Space movement, such as James Turrell.
The exhibitions "Bayt Al Hams (The Whispering House)" and "Khawatir (Thoughts)" provided dedicated spaces for Saudi artists to take an active role in both local and international art movements, including contributions from Tarek Atoui and Maha Al-Malouh.
Valley of the Arts, AlUla Arts Festival. Courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
As part of the Forgotten Studios Celebration, the artwork "NUEMA" was presented as a collaborative effort between Saudi artist Sarah Brahim and French artist Ugo Schiavi.
This piece stands between two historically significant sites: the ancient Nabataean city in southern AlUla and the historic Kingdom of Dadan, one of the most renowned and influential civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula.
NUEMA: The Forgotten Ceremony, an artistic work by Sara Brahim and Ugo Schiavi, AlUla Arts Festival. Courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
"Just as science reveals the substance of the world and transfers it into the realm of objective knowledge, art plays a similar role, but in the emotional substance of the world," Dr. Adel Mustafa once wrote. The significance of an artwork evokes different emotions and thoughts in its audience, as each person interprets it in their own unique way.
Beyond personal interpretations, there is also the core message that artists aim to convey through their chosen artistic medium, their “tangible and spatial mediation”, to use a more precise philosophical term. Art, as Salvador de Madariaga put it, is “the conveyance of spirit by means of matter.”
On a personal level, NUEMA conveyed to me a sense of reflection, one that echoes the historical ambiance of Diriyah among the civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula, capturing the intricate details of its alleys and the winding pathways of At-Turaif district. Without a doubt, NUEMA stirs an aesthetic emotion, a deep appreciation of beauty, through its harmony with AlUla’s breathtaking geographical landscape. These are the moments one should seek refuge in, away from life’s distractions, from time to time.
A glimpse of the "Wadi AlFann (Valley of the arts) Presents: James Turrell" exhibition. Courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Naturally, the ways in which contemporary humans experience art differ from those of past generations, especially after the significant transformation initiated by Impressionism, marked by Monet’s iconic Impression, Sunrise, and later, the Post-Impressionist movement led by Paul Cézanne in the early 20th century.
What matters most is that today’s artists are no longer bound by the need for literal "representation", the faithful depiction of nature or the prominent figures of society.
NUMEA follows modern and innovative methodologies in contemporary art, reflecting a significant and long-term partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic. This collaboration promotes the sustainable development of AlUla, transforming it into a unique tourist destination while preserving its historical heritage and cultural legacy.
Wadi AlFann (Valley of the arts): A Representative Model. Courtesy of James Turrell Studios and the Royal Commission for AlUla.
The Royal Commission for AlUla’s Contemporary Art Collection, Courtesy of James Turrell, and photography by Kerry Ryan McFate and Flying Studio.
The Royal Commission for AlUla’s Contemporary Art Collection, Courtesy of James Turrell, and photography by Kerry Ryan McFate and Flying Studio.
The Royal Commission for AlUla’s Contemporary Art Collection, Courtesy of James Turrell, and photography by Kerry Ryan McFate and Flying Studio.
