Lifestyle
17.10.2019
Coachella Desert X exports to Saudi Arabia
For its third edition, Desert X, a contemporary art exhibition that aims to draw attention to the environment of the Coachella Valley in southern California through the presentation of works by emerging artists, has chosen Saudi Arabia for its biennial art show next year.
The Coachella Valley in southern California is famous for its legendary music festival every year. But every two years, the site also hosts a contemporary art exhibition, Desert X, which aims to draw attention to major themes such as climate change, immigration or tourism through the presentation of works by emerging artists.
After its first two editions in Southern California, the Biennale of Contemporary Art is about to take place next year on another continent. Recently, the Royal Commission for Al Ula in Saudi Arabia concluded an agreement with the Californian organization to organize the third edition called “Desert X Al Ula”.
”With this collaboration, we want to foster a new dialogue that extends beyond borders”
Funded by the Saudi Royal Commission for AlUla, Desert X Al Ula is fully in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan and comes after Saudi Arabia announced its new tourist visa program, allowing visitors from 49 countries to visit the Kingdom for non-religious purposes.
Desert X, an exhibition that makes sense
Every two years, this free event attracts more than 200,000 visitors. Between the various artistic installations such as sculptures, pavilions, and billboards, emerging artists take a stand and engage in current issues that directly affect the host site: ecology, global warming and water resource management.
”Our initial mission was to inspire contemporary artists and draw international attention to the valley, to highlight the issues we all face while engaging in conversations with all our visitors”