From underwater sculpture parks to vast exhibitions in the desert, the Arab world has had a growing number of unique and unusual outdoor exhibitions and installations showcasing art in diverse ways. We decided to take a look at some of these and how they constantly manage to shake up the region’s art scene.
Desert X in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla
Desert X is an annual outdoor sculpture exhibition held in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla. Internationally recognized artists and emerging regional talents are given the opportunity to create sculptures and installations in the Saudi desert and winding canyons, resulting in some quite spectacular pieces. Since being established in 2017, this outdoor sculpture festival has done a lot to establish Saudi Arabia’s small but growing art scene. So far, they had two exciting exhibitions, one back in 2020 and another more recent one held in 2022, with more exhibitions planned in the coming future.
The International Symposium for Wall Murals at Burullus
In a small fishing town on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, artists from Egypt, the wider region, and the world would come once a year to paint enormous and colorful murals. Often reflecting on the town’s presence as a fishing village, Egyptian history, and culture, or simply a celebration of the local community, the murals are varied in both their content and style. A good hour or two can be spent exploring the murals and it’s well worth the trip to find them.
Dahab’s Underwater Sculpture Park
Hidden under the water just off the coast of Dahab in Egypt’s Sinai is a sculpture park accessible only to scuba divers and fish. With statues of Egyptian gods and others referencing the history of the country submerged underwater, you can explore the sculptures deep underwater. However, the sculptures also serve a dual purpose of providing a habitat for marine life to live in and for corals to establish themselves on. True to the ecologically aware approach of the underwater sculpture park, many of the artists used recycled objects thrown away in the trash.
Forever is Now at the Giza Pyramids
There may not be a more dramatic background to have for your sculptures or installations than that of the Great Pyramids of Giza. After launching its second edition back in November 2022, Forever is Now, which is organized by Art D’Egypte, is set to continue for many years to come after receiving 500,000 guests in just one month. With a mixture of Egyptian and international artists, the artists produce large-scale sculptures that are displayed on the Giza Plateau and often reference the Giza Pyramids and the history of the country.
Jordan’s Baladk Street Art Festival
In Jordan’s capital of Amman, the Baladk Street Art Festival has since 2013 been adding color and excitement to the city’s streets and buildings. With both Jordanian and international artists coming together to celebrate the local community, murals are painted throughout the whole city. As part of a growing art scene in Amman, Baladk Street Art Festival has become an increasingly important fixture of the local art scene and has attracted the attention of graffiti artists worldwide.
Desert Breath in the Egyptian Desert
Along Egypt’s Red Sea coast between the sea and the mountains is a piece of land art by a team of Greek artists called Desert Breath. The colossal artwork that was made in 1997 was constructed by digging holes and piling sand following a pattern that spreads out over a million square feet. The piece feels entirely different when experienced from above or on the ground, and is intended by the artists to reference the universe and the idea of infinity. While wind and rain have slowly taken their toll on the piles of sand, the vast sculpture still stands and can be seen from both the air and the ground.
With all these exciting ways to display art, we cannot wait to see even more creative locations pop up in the upcoming future. Let us know in the comments if you were able to hit up any of these outdoor exhibitions and installations and if you can think of any other cool spots in the region that would be perfect for even more outdoor exhibitions.