A Sultan in Rome: Saudi Artist Explores Themes of Spirituality in a 17th Century Palazzo

By Scoop Team On Nov 7, 2020

Rome is playing host to Saudi-born Sultan bin Fahad‘s first solo exhibition where he delves into themes of faith and spirituality. Through the use of different mediums like beautiful white marble and pieces of metal from Makkah, he looks at ideas like that of the confessional, intimacy and connection, and our relationship with God.

The one-of-a-kind exhibition is being held in the 17th century Palazzo Rhinoceros in the heart of what was once ancient Rome, now a hub for art and culture.

Keep scrolling for some stunning pictures of the exhibition and Sultan bin Fahad’s inspiring work.

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If stone could speak! It is a collection of marbles of various shapes from Saudi sacred areas, illuminated and redesigned by the interaction with a video depicting men and women absorbed in moments of prayer. The marble installation is composed in a ran- dom, non-geometric way. Rhythmic and profound gestures that are thus recounted and mirrored in this installation, that with a sensitive play of lights takes us back to a timeless space. Here it is almost possible to physically touch and enter the place of worship told by Sultan where each of us relates to our feelings. Crossing the installation room, our shadow is drawn on the back walls and the vision becomes reality, becoming the same as an infinite moment. The stones and marbles then become the only precious and silent witnesses of man in search of his spirituality. #sultanbinfahad #rinocerosgallery

A post shared by Sultan Bin Fahad (@sultanthe1st) on Oct 16, 2020 at 8:28pm PDT

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Sultan finds himself in a sacred place and almost by chance, from a privileged perspective, he stops to observe what happens beyond a luminescent partition placed to contain and give order to the visitors. The result is a magical mo- ment which Sultan records with his mobile phone. Moments reported in this vibrant installation. Hundreds of hands, faces, noses and gestures crowd, crawl and crush against this wall that has almost become the materiali"ation of the spirit. Everyone tries, after a long journey, to get in touch with Him. Each immersed in himself in search of his own answer, animated only by his own questions. All together with the load of gestures and humanity that make this moment universal. Hands in search of God, are the hands of visitors, in which the visitor can identify: a journey at the same time ab- stract and concrete towards the divine. @rhinocerosgallery #rhinocerosgallery @athrart #sultanbinfahad

A post shared by Sultan Bin Fahad (@sultanthe1st) on Oct 15, 2020 at 11:03am PDT

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