On February 20, 2014, British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley joined Saudi artist Ahmed Mater for a public talk in Jeddah as part of the Saudi Art Council’s 21,39 programme. In a rich and thought-provoking conversation, the two artists explored the power of sculpture to shape collective imagination and cultural memory, sharing perspectives on how art interacts with society across different cultural contexts. Gormley reflected on how his large-scale works invite shared experience, while Mater discussed his documentation of social change in Saudi Arabia. Their exchange marked a significant moment in fostering international artistic dialogue, inspiring further mentorship initiatives, workshops, and community engagement within the Kingdom’s evolving art scene.
During the event, on February 20th, the artists discussed aspects and opinions on the medium of sculpture and its connotations in today’s art world using examples from Gormley's repertoire and Mater’s recent work, which presents an unofficial history of Saudi socio-political life.
"The Saudi Art Council is proud to present two artists whose works are a testament to the enhancement of the versatile and vibrant programme of '21,39' which engages and informs the audience on the association between society and art," says Mohammed Hafiz, Vice-Chairman of The Saudi Art Council and Co-Founder of Athr Gallery. "Our vision is to further the dialogue between artists in the Kingdom with regional and global artists, amplifying the shared social understanding and inspire an ongoing interaction."
The National | Anna Seaman