The Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium activities started Monday in the Jax neighborhood in Diriyah, on the western outskirts of capital Riyadh, one of the "Riyadh Art" events under "The Poetics of Place" theme, with the participation of 20 local and international sculptors. The Symposium is the second event following the "Noor Al Riyadh" celebration within the "Riyadh Art" program, one of the four major Riyadh projects, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in 2021, upon an initiative of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh. The initiative aims at improving the quality of life in the city, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and enhancing the cultural and artistic aspects in the city, through transforming the city of Riyadh into an open art gallery that incorporates tradition with contemporary. The Kingdom's interest in local and international arts and artists is reflected in providing a creative atmosphere, holding an honorary exhibition, and announcing the three best works in the forum to be published in specific places in Riyadh, which contributes to providing an artistic feature that inspires the world. Different countries that are participating include Oman, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, and Georgia. The events include more than 30 workshops and artistic symposiums with the participation of local and international keynote speakers, and the reception of more than 400 male and female students from different levels of education and educational entities by organizing 18 educational trips to visit the forum's activities. This is in addition to presenting various artistic and cultural topics, such as Islamic art and the global sculpture in the region, the artistic scene in the Kingdom, the use of marble in the art scene, as well as an opportunity for the participating artists to practice sculpting in front of visitors throughout the forum, to enhance participation and dissemination of culture and entertainment among all segments of society. This symposium places community engagement at its fundamental core, which aligns with Riyadh Art's mission to enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike. The Tuwaiq Sculpture artists all work at the cutting-edge of their field, and are comprised of seasoned international sculpture symposium participants, as well as rising local talent. In line with Riyadh Art's mission to bring emerging artists from around the world to the Saudi capital, these 20 artists will live-sculpt their work during a period spanning Nov. 15–Dec. 5, 2021, following which the resulting artworks will be on view for four days, before moving to various outdoor locations across the city. Tuwaiq Sculpture is conceived as a celebration of diversity across art forms while examining thematic commonalities between international artists through aesthetics, and more. Tuwaiq Sculpture will include more than 30 engaging talks and panel discussions while simultaneously conducting workshops for the general public. The symposium will also include over 90 guided tours for everyone, including children of all ages, university students, adults, and art aficionados, providing a range of opportunities to delve into the world of sculpting. Convening the 20 Tuwaiq Sculpture artists along with leading figures in the Saudi cultural landscape, the talks will cover topics such as calligraphy as an artistic medium, the history of sculpture as an art form in Saudi Arabia, and the prevalence of organic motifs in sculpture. The program also includes a roundtable with Eike Schmidt (Uffizi, Florence) and Cristiana Collu (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Rome), both of whom sit on the Riyadh Art expert panel. Tuwaiq Sculpture will welcome visitors to the program from November 21 with guided tours and educational trips, and from November 25 with panel discussions and workshops. Tickets are free and can be pre-booked online. Rooted in a desire to further art knowledge in the city, Riyadh Art has set up a volunteering program in partnership with Riyadh's Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, which will see students interact with the participating artists during the Tuwaiq Sculpture. —SG/SPA
