Open call for artists: fourth Tuwaiq Sculpture
Deadline: September 18, 2022
The annual Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium, which brings together local and international artists to produce public artworks that form an essential component of Riyadh’s urban fabric, has announced the opening of its open call for the fourth edition.
Over 60 eminent sculptors from around the world have participated in Tuwaiq Sculpture so far, along with thousands of tourists. In line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, it is an essential component of the Riyadh Art project, which aims to turn the city into a gallery without walls. More than 1,000 works of art will be displayed throughout the Saudi capital’s neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces. This will elevate Riyadh’s status as a top city in the world for sustainability and quality of life.
In the JAX District of Riyadh, a thriving center of arts and culture in Saudi Arabia, the 4th Tuwaiq Sculpture features a public live sculpture creating event. A variety of community engagement activities, such as school and university visits, seminars, and panel discussions, will be held concurrently with the creative process.
At JAX District, a five-day exhibition will take place as the symposium’s finale. After the exhibition, the sculptures will be permanently moved to Riyadh’s Qasr Al-Hukm District, which is the city’s center and a significant part of Saudi Arabia’s history due to its function as the city’s political, cultural, and commercial hub. The artworks will so enhance the collection of Riyadh art, contributing to the city’s topography and enhancing the cultural experiences of both residents and visitors.
Artists from all over the world are encouraged to submit proposals in response to a curatorial theme if they have at least five years of experience creating sculptures and displaying their work in outdoor settings and galleries. A jury panel will choose 30 artists from both domestic and foreign countries to take part in the symposium, where they will work with either granite or Riyadh Stone (sandstone) to produce sizable public artworks.
The 4th Tuwaiq Sculpture, curated by Marek Wolynski, explores the basic aspect of human existence—the ongoing synthesis of opposing forces—under the heading Energy of Harmony. Harmony is achieved through striking a balance between variety and repetition, scarcity and abundance, and passivity and vibrancy. Energy of Harmony creates focal places and points of connection within Riyadh’s urban setting, heightening awareness of coexisting structures, sounds, and patterns.
Based in London, Marek specializes in large-scale projects and cross-sector partnerships, having previously worked on creative commissions and seminal exhibitions with the British Council, United Nations, Mayor of London, Verbeke Foundation, European Parliament, Luma Foundation, and Art Rotterdam, among others.
The jury panel who will select the Tuwaiq Sculpture artists includes Alaa Tarabzouni, Director of ATHR Gallery, an architect and artist whose practice focuses on urbanism and the built environment; Ali Al-Tokhais, a sculptor with a practice spanning 40 years and an expert is stones originating from Saudi Arabia; a renowned academic whose work revolves around the arts, culture, and heritage of Saudi Arabia and whose name will be announced soon; Johannes von Stumm, a critically acclaimed sculptor, President of the Oxford Art Society and Past President of the Royal Society of Sculptors in the UK; and the curator.
Participating artists will have the opportunity to contribute to Tuwaiq Sculpture’s community engagement program, which hosts school and university visits that provide students direct exposure to various sculptural practices, as well as sculpting skills, tools, techniques and materials.
The open call closes on September 18, and selected artists will be announced at the end of October. More information on the application process can be found on the Riyadh Art website.
Riyadh Art
Royal Commission for Riyadh City, 3166 Amr Aldamri St, Al Safarat, 7666
Riyadh 12512
Saudi Arabia
T +966 11 802 0000
[email protected]