Diriyah Art Futures Announces Major Exhibition ‘Maknana’ Celebrating New Media Art in the Arab World
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Riyadh, April 13, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) announced today the upcoming launch of its second major exhibition, Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World, scheduled to run from April 21 to July 19, 2025, at DAF in Diriyah, Riyadh.
The exhibition will showcase works by over 40 pioneering artists from the Middle East and North Africa region, offering a compelling narrative of how Arab artists have historically engaged with and redefined technology as a vehicle for creative expression. Maknana presents a rare and comprehensive survey of new media art from across the Arab world, spanning disciplines such as early video art, experimental film, generative systems, and expanded media.
The term Maknana, derived from Arabic and translated as “automation,” serves as the thematic foundation of the exhibition. It examines how artists have explored, repurposed, and even challenged technological systems to forge unique creative vocabularies reflective of their environments and cultural identities.
Structured across four thematic sections—Automation, Autonomy, Ripples, and Glitch—the exhibition traces recurring concerns and artistic gestures across different generations, geographies, and evolving media paradigms. These themes illuminate the dynamic intersections of culture, identity, and innovation as they have emerged through Arab artistic practices.
In addition to the main exhibition, Diriyah Art Futures will host a robust public program that includes talks, performances, screenings, and workshops. These events will provide visitors with the opportunity to engage directly with participating artists and leading voices in new media art, expanding on the exhibition’s central themes.
Maknana underscores Diriyah Art Futures’ commitment to fostering regional innovation, supporting interdisciplinary practice, and cultivating a deeper public understanding of contemporary art rooted in both historical and digital contexts. The initiative aligns with broader national goals to position Saudi Arabia as a hub for cultural production and creativity.