Noor Riyadh, one of the world’s most exciting festivals of light and art, celebrated its second edition with bigger and bolder figures. This year, the festival tripled in size, presenting over 200 artworks by more than 130 artists. Noor Riyadh combines the highest quality light artworks from leading international and Saudi artists. Staged under Riyadh Art, the festival aims to nurture local talent and inspire the youth to drive Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
Noor Riyadh, with this year’s theme of “We Welcome New Horizons”, welcomed 2.8 million visitors across its 40 citywide locations and five hubs including King Abdullah Park, Salam Park, Diplomatic Quarter (DQ), KAFD, Bayt AlMalaz, Jax District, Al Masmak, Wadi Namar, Wadi Hanifah, The Ritz Carlton, King Fahd National Library, Olaya Park, The Zone, and Majdoul Tower. In the DQ, artworks and installations were displayed at Kindi Square, Oud Square, Yamamah Park, Cultural Park, and Asheeh Park.
‘We Dream of New Horizons’ was curated by Hervé Mikaeloff, Dorothy Di Stefano, and Jumana Ghouth, along with curatorial adviser Arnaud Morand. The citywide Noor Riyadh 2022 included at least 90 new commissions from international and Saudi artists, such as Ahaad Alamoudi, Abdullah AlOthman, Daniah Al Saleh, Rashed AlShashai, Sarah Brahim, Daniel Buren, Bricklab, Douglas Gordon, Tadashi Kawamata, Alicja Kwade, Jean-Michel Othoniel, and Muhannad Shono.
The second edition of Riyadh’s annual festival of light and art is a record-breaking success, achieving six Guinness World of Records: the largest celebration of light arts, the longest distance covered for a light laser display, the largest light laser display, the highest and largest display on a building interface and the largest number of drones participating in a creative art show.
While the citywide festival ended on November 19, Noor Riyadh will continue its programming through the world-class exhibition ‘From Spark to Spirit’, curated by Neville Wakefield and associate curator Gaida AlMogren until February 23, 2023.
Photo credit: www.twitter.com/NoorRiyadhFest
