Tuwaiq Sculpture 2024: Live sculpting symposium and vibrant public program

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

The 5th edition of Tuwaiq Sculpture is making its return to Riyadh, inviting the public to witness artists sculpting new works and participate in a diverse program featuring panel discussions, talks, guided tours, and interactive workshops.

As a vital component of the Riyadh Art program, which envisions Riyadh as a “gallery without walls,” Tuwaiq Sculpture aims to showcase over 1,000 artworks throughout the city in the coming years. Since its launch in 2019, the event has collaborated with 120 renowned local and international artists, engaging thousands of visitors.

In the current edition, 30 artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world will create large-scale sculptures to be installed as permanent public artworks across the city. This initiative aims to foster creativity, engage diverse communities, and enrich lives through art.

Curated by Marek Wolynski (Lead Curator) and Fahad Aljebreen (Associate Curator), Tuwaiq Sculpture 2024 explores the theme ‘Dimensions of Movement.’ This theme symbolizes progress and expansion, mirroring the rapid advancements of modern society. It encapsulates the energy of Riyadh’s ongoing transformation, reflecting its ambitious drive towards innovation and new horizons. Sculptors are encouraged to craft bold, awe-inspiring artworks that transcend boundaries, convey speed and power, expand perceptions of space and time, and embody the Saudi spirit of progress and boundless potential.

Marek Wolynski remarked on this year’s festival, stating, “Echoing Riyadh’s transformative journey, Tuwaiq Sculpture 2024 provides a range of opportunities to explore three-dimensional art in all its facets.” The festival serves as a dynamic platform where art, community, and urban transformation converge.

Artists from 20 countries will create their sculptures on-site at ROSHN Front from January 14 to February 8, 2024. Visitors can observe live sculpting from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm every day except Sundays, with workshops and other public activities on selected evenings.

This year introduces the exclusive use of granite as the primary artistic medium, adding a new dimension to Tuwaiq Sculpture and showcasing artists’ adaptability and creativity with this formidable material.

The public program at ROSHN Front during the festival will feature 15 panel talks, over 30 workshops exploring sculptural forms, and masterclasses from prominent artists like Saddek Wasil and Amr Abuzaid. The program caters to both beginners and those at intermediate levels, including over 20 educational visits by local schools and universities.

Following the 23 days of sculpting, the completed artworks will be exhibited at ROSHN from February 12 to 24, 2024, before being permanently relocated across the city, enriching the Riyadh Art collection.

Sarah Alruwayti, Tuwaiq Sculpture Director at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, notes, “Tuwaiq Sculpture, now in its 5th Edition, has become a significant international event on the global sculpting calendar.” She welcomes 30 artists from 20 countries, emphasizing the event’s role in fostering collaborations between artists and art communities worldwide.

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