Saudi Arabia to participate in 17th edition of Venice Biennale

The Kingdom will participate, for the second time, in the 17th edition of the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which will be held in May 2021 under the title: "How Will We Live Together?" Three architects were chosen to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and work side by side with the international curators.The experiential exhibition, “Accommodations,” looks at the current and historical perspective of quarantine and invites, through its various parts, moments of exploration and analysis, that reflect the intertwining relationship between the individual and the community and the other.The exhibition includes a study of quarantine’s evolution, its impact on external contexts, and its ability to generate new meanings from new or emergency situations.The Architecture and Design Commission will be responsible for overseeing this year's pavilion, as part of its roles in supporting the architecture and design sector in Saudi Arabia and empowering local talents in this fields, in addition to its efforts to promote international cultural exchange between the Kingdom and the world.The CEO of the commission, Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman, explained that the Saudi National Pavilion provides a platform for the thriving Saudi architectural community to share its creative vision with international audiences in this distinguished artistic event, creating an opportunity for dialogue and cultural exchange.She added that the three architects participating this year embody the diversity of emerging talents, and we are pleased to host their work in our second participation in the 2021 Venice Biennale of Architecture, with a concept aimed at stimulating discussion about the architectural impacts of last year resulting from the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.The upcoming edition of Venice Biennale of Architecture will be held from 22 May to 21 November 2021 at the permanent headquarters of the Biennial in Venice. The Saudi pavilion will be located in the “Arsenale,” a historic shipbuilding complex in northern Italy.The participation of the Architecture and Design Commission in the Biennale reflects the bonding relationship between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Venice Biennale. It also highlights the commission’s efforts to support and empower the thriving sectors of arts and architecture, as well as building solid relationships with the world.This comes in line with the aspirations of the Ministry of Culture to build a rich cultural sector that embraces creativity and contributes to economic growth within the framework of the National Strategy for Culture emanating from the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

May 5, 2021 - 12:00