This exhibition marks the first solo showcase of a Saudi Arabian artist in mainland China, featuring over 100 works by Ahmed Mater spanning his artistic journey to date.
Ahmed Mater was born in 1979 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. He initially studied medicine but eventually shifted his focus to art. Traces of his medical background are evident in his works, such as his use of X-ray images and other medical materials in his creations. His diverse body of work spans painting, sculpture, installations, and land art, often focusing on the relationship between humans and nature, reflecting the clash between tradition and modernity, while also exploring the expression of beauty, which is a key characteristic of Mater's art.
Exhibition Highlights:
Green Antenna: Ahmed grew up in a small village in the southern mountains of Saudi Arabia, and this green antenna symbolizes the tool through which he accessed information about the outside world. Starting from the antenna, he began to gain a deeper understanding of the world around him.
Magnetism: One of his most famous works, this piece carries a thought-provoking metaphor. The Kaaba in Mecca, which attracts millions of pilgrims every year, acts as the magnetic force at the center of a magnetic field, drawing the faithful to its sacred site.
Ashab Al-Lal: A vast installation situated in the hot sands of Wadi AlFann, a 65-square-kilometer "valley of the arts" in AlUla in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. Visitors descend through a tunnel into a subterranean chamber, where a mirage will reflect their image above ground, so that walkers in the desert will encounter their apparition.
Mecca Windows: The windows on display are just a part of Ahmed's collection. He gathered these discarded, colorful windows from Mecca. Though they no longer provide a view between the inside and outside of homes, we can still glimpse the past of Mecca through them.
Illuminations: This series combines Ahmed's medical experience (X-rays) with Islamic traditional arts (Qur'an, painting, calligraphy), merging two seemingly contradictory elements.
Guncaps: The final piece of the exhibition, located at the exit, uses toy gun caps from Saudi Arabia in the late 20th century to explore what unites, rather than divides.
Through his works, you can sense the profound impact of Saudi Arabia's industrialization and development, as well as the significant role religion plays in the lives of the local people. While our cultures may differ, this exhibition provides a window into Saudi Arabia, offering a unique perspective on its rich traditions, modern evolution, and complex identity.
SmartShanghai | Eva Zhai