AFTER RAIN

The second edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale opened in the historic town of Diriyah—close to Riyadh and home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif—on February 20. Led by artistic director Ute Meta Bauer, the Biennale features 92 artists from 43 countries, including 30 from the Gulf region. The title, After Rain, evokes a scent that comes from the ground and embodies revitalisation and renewal. A substantial number of new works that engage with this moment of transformation were commissioned for the Biennale. Participating artists include Ahmed Mater, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent artists; Berlin-based photographer and filmmaker Armin Linke; Saudi contemporary artist Asma Bahmim; Saudi-based Yemeni artist Sara Abdu; Dutch architect Anne Holtrop; and acclaimed Saudi artist and writer Abdulrahman Al-Soliman. After Rain runs until May 24 across seven halls, numerous courtyards and terraces in the JAX District, which is situated along Wadi Hanifa, a seasonal riverbed.