Taking place under SOM’s Hajj Terminal canopy at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, the exhibition is divided into seven components that include indoor and outdoor areas: AlBidayah (“the Beginning”), AlMadar (“the Orbit”), AlMuqtani (“Homage”), AlMidhallah (“the Canopy”), AlMukarramah (“the Honored”), AlMunawwarah (“the Illuminated”), and AlMusalla, a space for prayer and gathering.
AlBidayah, dedicated to the sacred, consists of large spaces defined by curved translucent walls that amplify the monumentality of the objects on display. The highlight of this section is the Kiswah—the cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba—exhibited for the first time in its entirety outside Makkah. These galleries also showcase other objects from Makkah and Madinah together with contemporary artworks. The frames of the vitrines are painted black, which echoes the shades of many artworks and artifacts.
Second Edition of Islamic Arts Biennale by OMA. Photograph by Marco Cappelletti, image courtesy of OMA.
AlMadar, with contributions from more than thirty institutions from over twenty countries, features a forest of thirty-seven abstract rectangular columns. Made of concentric layers of translucent textiles and illuminated from below and within, they emerge as extrusions of the vitrines underneath, gradually fading into the ceiling's darkness. The density of columns helps visitors identify and navigate the thematic clusters and discover the participating institutions.
“It’s an honor to continue working with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation on the second edition of the Biennale and to contribute to the expansion of this event, in Saudi Arabia and on the global art scene.”
Iyad Alsaka, OMA Partner.
The scenography of AlMuqtani is designed to give equal importance to the two collections displayed in this section. A bowtie-shaped layout divides the gallery into two triangles of equal size, one for each collection. The triangles are defined by symmetrical pleated walls that ascend from eye level to the full height of the room. Each pleat hosts a vitrine, forming a seamless display front that is revealed only as visitors circulate through the gallery. The center of the gallery is occupied by the exhibition’s highlights and treasuries.
Second Edition of Islamic Arts Biennale by OMA. Photograph by Marco Cappelletti, image courtesy of OMA.
AlMidhallah presents a number of site-specific art works on the theme of gardens in Islamic cultures. Extensive plantings have been added to our 2023 landscape intervention, structuring the placement of the artworks. Together, they occupy a square of nine canopy bays in the center of the outdoor space, which creates a more compact and intimate journey through the exhibition.
“Creating harmony and cohesion within the scenography design, while establishing a dialogue between the historical and contemporary artworks on such a monumental scale, has been both a significant undertaking and an inspiring process. We achieved this by adopting an abstract architectural language, materialized through lightness and translucency, that moves away from conventional museum-like presentations.”
Kaveh Dabiri, OMA Associate.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s role as guardian of the holy cities Makkah and Madinah is recognized in two pavilions dedicated to these cities, AlMukarramah and AlMunawwarah. AlMukarramah reflects on the powerful dynamic between the centrality and universality of Makkah al-Mukarramah, bringing together historical items associated with the Holy Kaaba, rare early photographs and film, and a contemporary art installation. AlMunawwarah explores the legacy of Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, featuring a group of gold-embroidered textiles, and the pavilion’s design reflects the celebrated warmth of Madinah’s atmosphere.
Second Edition of Islamic Arts Biennale by OMA. Photograph by Marco Cappelletti, image courtesy of OMA.
The curatorial team of the Islamic Arts Biennale is led by Artistic Directors Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Muhannad Shono as Curator of Contemporary Art. The exhibition will run until 25 May 2025.
OMA also designed the scenography of the first edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023. The project marks a new chapter in the office’s extensive involvement in Saudi Arabia. OMA’s portfolio in the Middle East includes projects such as Qatar National Library, the headquarters of the Qatar Foundation, and Concrete at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. OMA’s think tank, AMO, has published extensively on the rapid urbanization of the region in two special issues of Volume magazine, Al Manakh (2007), and Al Manakh: Gulf Continued (2010).
