Photo: Instagram.com/venice.architecture.biennale
Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission is all set to participate in the Venice Biennale’s 18th International Architecture Exhibition next year.
On the occasion, the Kingdom is inviting artists and architects to showcase their craft and send in ideas for the Biennale. Sumayah Al Solaiman, head of the commission, said on Wednesday that the festival would pave the way and give architects the opportunity to find creative ways to improve people’s lives. “This version of the biennale seeks architectural solutions to contemporary social and human issues, especially since the architect’s nature urges him to continue searching for solutions and innovations,” said Al Solaiman.
Explaining that architecture is an integral part of Saudi culture, Al Solaiman said the country’s pavilion would be a platform to showcase its talent and culture on a global stage. She said, “We wish to put the kingdom at the forefront of the global creative scene by giving opportunities to talents, and access to international platforms — and the biennale is one of the largest.”
Saudi Arabia debuted at the Venice Biennale in 2011 and since then, the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia has presented a diverse range of architects and artists, spanning different mediums, from all over the country. In 2018, the Kingdom premiered at the International Architecture Exhibition along with 63 other countries. The theme for the exhibition was ‘Freespace’ and it centered on the concept of space and its quality within the chassis of urban environments.
Saudi Arabia also took part in the festival last year, traversing across the theme ‘How Will We Live Together?’, distinctly focusing on how people from different backgrounds and cultures can exist together peacefully in a post-pandemic world.
The Biennale will be held from May 20 to November 26 next year under the theme ‘The Laboratory of The Future’.
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