Art of the Kingdom Shines in China: First Travelling Exhibition of Saudi Contemporary Artists Opens at National Museum of China

   Riyadh, July 17, 2025, SPA -- Following successful presentations in Rio de Janeiro and Riyadh, the Saudi Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, brings Art of the Kingdom: Poetic Illuminations exhibition to the National Museum of China in Beijing, opening to the public on July 30, 2025 and on view until October 30, 2025. This is the first travelling group exhibition of Saudi contemporary artists; its arrival in Beijing marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Saudi-Chinese diplomatic relations and is part of the activations of the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year.
   Art of the Kingdom showcases a curated selection of over 30 Saudi artists across generations, disciplines, and practices, who offer bold reflections on identity, memory, tradition, and change.
   From paintings to installations and video works, the artworks present a panoramic view of Saudi Modern and Contemporary art, shining a light on Saudi Arabia's vast history, collective memory, and cultural traditions.
   Commissioned by the Museums Commission and curated by Argentinian art critic Diana Wechsler, Art of the Kingdom debuted at the historic Paço Imperial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024, before traveling to the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax (SAMoCA@Jax) in Riyadh earlier this year. The Beijing edition will be the third stop of this travelling international exhibition.
   Structured around two themes—the desert and cultural tradition—Art of the Kingdom presents an exploration of Saudi Arabia's evolving visual culture, weaving the history of the region into an artistic narrative shaped by present-day questions and experiences.
   Audiences can expect a stellar line-up of the country's most prominent and high-profile artists including Muhannad Shono (1977, Saudi Arabia), Lina Gazzaz (1979, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Manal AlDowayan (1973, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia), Ayman Zedani (1984, Saudi Arabia), Moath Alofi(1984, Madinah, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Mater (1979, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia), Ahaad Alamoudi (1991, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Shadia Alem (1960, Makkah, Saudi Arabia), Faisal Samra (1956, Saudi Arabia), Ayman Yossri Daydban (1966, Ramallah, Palestine; lives in Jeddah), Daniah Al Saleh (1970, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Filwa Nazer (1972, Swansea, UK), Sarah Brahim (1992, Saudi Arabia), Ahmad Angawi (1981, Makkah, Saudi Arabia), Nasser Al Salem (1984, Makkah, Saudi Arabia), and Basmah Felemban (1988, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
   Many of the leading contemporary artists will be present at the inauguration of the exhibition, celebrating this new chapter of a landmark travelling show and marking this milestone moment for Saudi-Chinese cultural exchange.
   For the National Museum of China, the exhibition’s curation has been subtly adapted to present an introduction to Saudi modernist masters from the 1960s-1980s, with a capsule of significant artworks from the Saudi Ministry of Culture's collection. This curatorial intervention has been thoughtfully added to give a diverse, historical dimension to the Saudi modern and contemporary art story.
   Art of the Kingdom serves as a testament to the power of culture in breaking boundaries, nurturing an understanding and appreciation between people, cultures, and nations.
   As Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene thrives, this exhibition showcases the diversity and ambition of contemporary Saudi artists, all sharing their own perspectives and cultural narratives on the world stage. The Beijing presentation contributes to deepening the cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and China, fostering cross-cultural exchange and understanding through the universal language of art.
   -- SPA