Noor Riyadh and Fondazione Querini Stampalia present a Capsule Exhibition in Venice

Curated under the theme ‘In the Blink of an Eye’, the festival and exhibition reflect the rapid pace of change and transformation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as well as the growing role of cultural development in the city’s transformation. The capsule exhibition is curated by Mami Kataoka, working in collaboration with Li Zhenhua and Sara AlMutlaq.

The exhibition will present the work of four international artists who will also be included in the Noor Riyadh 2025 Festival (20 November – 6 December). Each artist and their work represent an element of the curatorial theme and framework for the 2025 festival, and visual representations of historic examples of cultural exchange between Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Ayoung Kim focuses on the new Riyadh metro system, highlighting both its role as infrastructure and as a public museum displaying contemporary art across its stations.

Wang Yuyang brings into the exhibition a representation of Riyadh’s rapid technological and urban development, emphasizing the illuminated and modern character of the city.

Abdelrahman Elshahed presents calligraphy that establishes a conceptual connection between Riyadh and Venice, referencing their long histories of cultural and commercial exchange.

A tribute to Safeya Binzagr (1940-2024) introduces Italian audiences to the work of one of Saudi Arabia’s leading modernist artists, whose practice combined elements of international and local traditions.

The exhibition is installed in the spaces designed by Carlo Scarpa at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia.

In parallel, Noor Riyadh 2025 emphasizes the city’s current transformation and its ambition to serve as a global platform for artistic and cultural exchange.

Noor Riyadh 2025 is produced by Filmmaster, Italian company specialized in experiential media and it is the largest light art festival in the world. Noor Riyadh combines the highest quality light artworks from leading international and Saudi artists, across the largest city footprint of any light art festival worldwide. Staged under Riyadh Art, the festival aims to nurture local talent and inspire youth to drive Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.

Website: https://riyadhart.sa/en/noor-riyadh/ Instagram: @noorriyadhfestival Twitter: @NoorRiyadhFest Facebook: @NoorRiyadhFestival Noor Riyadh is presented by Riyadh Art and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Riyadh Art is one of Riyadh’s four original mega projects under Vision 2030 and is led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Launched in 2019, it was developed to catalyze the capital’s transformation, enrich lives, and encourage creative expression and cross-cultural dialogue through art. Art and culture are essential to the identity of a city, and the Riyadh Art initiative was established to reflect the openness and accessibility of the capital’s growing creative landscape; where the exchange of ideas through artistic practice contributes to a deeper and more inclusive cultural identity.

Riyadh Art aims to have a positive impact on people, bringing everyday moments of joy to residents and visitors alike, while instilling a greater sense of civic pride and creating a more beautiful city for everyone to enjoy. It also supports the growth of the creative economy and contributes to attracting investment and talent to Riyadh.

The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious cultural institutions. Founded in 1869, it has embodied for more than 150 years the vision of its founder, Count Giovanni Querini, a bold and visionary pioneer who established the Foundation to ‘promote the pursuit of knowledge and useful disciplines.’

Located in the heart of Venice, the Foundation is a lively crossroads between past and present, from its remarkable art collections to its rich library and the spaces reinterpreted by masters of contemporary architecture. It is an institution defined by courage, openness, and curiosity, committed to enhancing its vast heritage, earning the trust of its visitors, and making every experience truly memorable.

ABOUT FILMMASTER

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Filmmaster is specialized in experiential media that transcends traditional events or advertising. Antonio Abete is the CEO.