Ahmed Mater: Ashab Al-Lal (Bahrain)

19 Dec 2023 - 31 Dec 2023

The Architectural Heritage House, Al Muharraq, Bahrain

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Organised by:

Minister of Culture of Bahrain 

Press:

The exhibition presents models and sketches of artist Ahmed Mater’s site specific art installation that is proposed for the Wadi Al Fann in Al Ula. Ashab Al-Lal takes its name from a poem by nabati poetry on arabian desert , where the mirage – always ephemeral, out of reach – becomes a guide and a reason to continue onwards in the expanse of the desert. The work takes the image of ‘navigations’ and returns it to the desert environment where it first originated. It asks questions about the ‘image’ – what constitutes its meaning, from where does it derive its particular iconography and power, how does it telegraph its story today and into the future?

Ashab Al-Lal, a vast installation situated in the hot sands of Wadi AlFann, a 65-square-kilometre ‘valley of the arts’ in AlUla in the north-west 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.

Set against the breathtaking sandstone cliffs and canyons of the vast terrain, the pieces celebrate the landscape of AlUla and respect the archaeological relics and colossal history. Drawing from its scenic topography, undulating panoramas, and distinctive geological structures, the schemes present an oasis of narratives inviting local communities, art lovers, adventurers, and globetrotters to explore and discover. The site’s pavilions, walkways, and belvederes will use locally sourced materials and be positioned to facilitate the free movement of camel herds and other native species. 

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