The States of Light exhibition is Reem Al Faisal’s                                                                                  .

 journey in defining the abstract concept of existence, reality and the Divine in her photographs.

Starting from Jeddah Islamic Port, the maritime gateway to Saudi sacred sites, we explore the city of Jeddah and move across key locations in Mecca including Mina, Mount Arafat, Muzdalifah, the Jamarat and the Grand Mosque.

A pioneer photographer, Reem Al Faisal reconciles her identity and traditions with modernity: “In our modern culture, we have been trained to focus upon the physical although we see through our mind, will and emotion. There is a spiritual dimension that is expressed through beauty and creativity. This is what I try to achieve for myself through my work.”

Christiane Al Ashkar \ Curator

Granddaughter of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Princess Reem Al Faisal (b. 1968) is a pioneer photographer. Her signature black-and-white photography garnered international acclaim and has been showcased in numerous exhibitions around the globe.

Al Faisal holds a degree in Arabic Literature from the King Abdul Aziz University before pursuing her photography studies at the prestigious Spéos Photographic Institute in Paris and harnessing her artistic voice.

In her oeuvre, Al Faisal developed a unique photographic language that intertwines Islamic art philosophy with Arabic poetry, capturing the essence of her travels to diverse locations in China, Egypt, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Japan, and Syria. She is recognized among the few women photographers who have extensively documented the Hajj pilgrimage, offering a rare insight into this significant cultural and religious event.

In 2009, Al Faisal established The Empty Quarter Gallery in Dubai, the first gallery dedicated exclusively to photography and played a pivotal role in establishing a branch to Spéos Photographic Institute in the city. Due to her valuable contributions to the arts, Al Faisal was awarded the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (Légion d’Honneur).

Al Faisal photographs are found in prestigious private collections and public institutions like the Sakakini Center in Ramallah, Palestine; The National Museum of Korea in Seoul; and The National Gallery of Jordan.

She remains committed to her artistic practice and traditional film photography and views her images through the lens of black-and-white prints, to further enhance the depth and emotion of her work.

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Reflections of Existence                                                                                   .

The L’Art Pur Foundation is pleased to host a solo exhibition for
the late artist Khaled Al-Sowianea, highlighting a selected collection
of his realistic and surreal works, allowing visitors the opportunity
to explore his creativity and understand his profound impact on the
Saudi art scene.

Khaled Al-Sowianea was born in 1969 in the city of Unayzah in the
Qassim region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His talent flourished
from childhood, and he began participating in art exhibitions in
Unayzah, as well as joining its artistic group. He excelled in various
artistic schools, starting with realism influenced by Impressionism,
and later becoming well-known for his surrealism, as well as
working on calligraphy. He participated in numerous local and
international exhibitions across different countries and received
many awards and top honors in the fields of visual arts and
photography. He was a founding member of the Saudi Art
Association and several of his works have been included in various
educational curricula. Khaled Al-Sowianea passed away in 1445 AH
due to the COVID19- pandemic.

“Mirrors of Existence” exhibition showcases the surrealism and realism
of Al-Sowianea. His surreal artworks reflect his fantasies and dreams
through a blend of elements that appear both contradictory and
harmonious, familiar yet strange at the same time. He shapes these
elements with his precise brushwork, expressing his bold ideas and
reflections on scenes of life and death in paintings that resemble
dreams. On the other hand, his vibrant realistic works reveal his deep
connection to his city and environment, portraying them with
feelings filled with hope and optimism, using alive and vibrant colors.

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WOVEN PORTRAITS                                                                                   .

Dreamscapes of a City

Woven Portraits is an exhibition dedicated to celebrating the strength, resilience,
and creativity of women in Riyadh, set against the backdrop of the city’s dynamic
sociocultural landscape. It serves as a platform to honor their diverse
experiences, aspirations, and contributions to the fabric of society.
Woven Portraits explores the multifaceted lives of women in Riyadh, highlighting
their dreams, challenges, and triumphs, delving into the intricate weaving of their
experiences and their dreams, showcasing how they navigate through a rapidly
evolving cityscape while preserving their identities and forging paths of change.

The exhibition features multimedia artworks by artists Daniah Alsaleh and
Catherine Gfeller, inspired by conversations with 37 women from various
backgrounds, all residing in Riyadh. Through their artistic expressions, Alsaleh and
Gfeller capture the essence of these women’s stories, weaving together visual and
auditory elements to create a tapestry of shared experiences. Each artwork
serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of women in Riyadh.
From themes of loneliness to finding home, grief to forgiveness, the artists’
interpretations offer insights into the complexities of female existence in the city,
inviting viewers to contemplate the broader sociocultural landscape, and engage
with the stories and experiences of the women featured in the exhibition. Through
immersive displays, visitors are encouraged to reflect on their own perceptions of
womanhood, identity and community, fostering dialogue and understanding.

As we navigate through the woven landscape of Riyadh, let us not only admire the
beauty of the threads but also recognize the strength and resilience of the hands
that weave them. Woven Portraits stands as a tribute to the women of Riyadh,
amplifying their voices and celebrating their invaluable contributions to society.

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IS THIS A GOLD BAR?                                                                        .

Celebrating the transformative power of art. Hafez Gallery, L’Art Pur

Foundation, and curator Ayman Yossri Daydban joined forces to

present Dr. Sami Al-Marzoogi art’s upcoming solo exhibition,

“Is This a Gold Bar?!”

‏Witness the profound impact of creativity on life’s journey.

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Into The Inner Self – Jassim Al Dhamin                                                                 .
Solo Exhibition by the Saudi Artist Jassim Al Dhamin

The L’Art Pur Foundation is dedicated to nurturing the art scene in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is committed to supporting Saudi
artists. In line with this commitment, we are pleased to host the
contemporary Saudi artist Jassim Al-Dhamin and present his second
solo exhibition, titled “Into The Inner Self.”

Jassim Al Dhamin, visual artist, born in 1988 on Tarut Island in the
Qatif Governorate, Eastern Saudi Arabia. His fascination with colors
and illustration at an early age, drawn him to Fine Arts and he gained
confidence through the encouragement of his teachers in the
elementary school. Although he completed his major in electrical
engineering, he never abandoned his passion and developed himself
as an artist through research, experimentation, and continuous
practice in his studio. His first exhibition experience was at the
Young Artists Exhibition at the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and
Arts 2009, where he won the First prize. He won as well the
Acquisition Award for Contemporary Islamic Art from the Ministry
of Culture and Information in 2012. He participated in numerous
group exhibitions in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries and held his
first solo exhibition, “Hope” in 2014.

“Into the Inner Self” is a captivating exploration of internal introspection
by Jassim Al Dhamin. It emphasizes the significance of the relationship
between one’s inner self and the external world, highlighting the
importance of dialogue between the two to gain a deeper understanding
of existence. The exhibition showcases a collection of Al Dhamin’s latest
works, inviting viewers to embark on their own inner journey and delve
into the depths of the human soul. Each painting is characterized by
vibrant shapes, symbols and colors, creating an expressive world that
reflects human experiences and societal perspectives. “Into The Inner
Self” encourages meditation as a means to attain self-awareness,
fostering personal balance, stability, and personal growth

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New Horizons – Chaouki Chamoun                                                              .

The Retrospective Exhibition Of The Artist

In celebration of fifty years of his artistic career

Within the framework of cultural exchange and the enrichment of the art scene in Riyadh, L’Art Pur Foundation is honored to host the artist Chaouki Chamoun for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to organize his retrospective exhibition “New Horizons” in celebration of fifty years of his artistic career, in collaboration with Christiane Ashkar Art Consultancy and in partnership with the Lebanese Executives Council.

Chaouki Chamoun, an artist and academic professor, was born in Lebanon in 1942. He studied at the Institute of Fine Arts at the Lebanese University in Beirut, and obtained a postgraduate diploma in painting in 1972. He then achieved a master’s degree in fine arts from Syracuse University, following a PhD in aesthetics and studio art from New York University in 1979. He held many positions in public and private universities in Lebanon and was head of the Lebanese Artists Association for Painters and Sculptors. Chaouki Chamoun has had more than forty exhibitions since 1975, where his works were show cased in the United States of America, Europe, Hong Kong, and the Arab world. He has participated in more than sixty collective exhibitions and in many international biennials, museums, and auction houses.  Among them are the Sursock Museum in Beirut, Europe Art in Geneva, Sotheby’s in London, Christie’s in Dubai, the Alexandria Biennale, the Katzen Museum of Art in Washington, D.C., the Abu Dhabi Art Fair and the MENASA Art Fair in Beirut.

“New Horizons” retrospective exhibition showcases sixty-nine artworks that highlight different stages of Chaouki Chamoun artistic journey.  A journey rich in transformations, experiments and trends. Dr. Maha Sultan, researcher and art critic, says:

“Chaouki Chamoun aptly bears the characteristics of an educated artist, distinguished by skill, creativity, innovation, and constant passion”.

In Chamoun’s paintings, we find a passion and profuse search for aesthetics – a continuous exploration of an artistic language and a color field of his own, paired with his artistic vision. Furthermore, his paintings reveal bright stories yet contrasted by tragic experiences, which the artist embraces with peace, love and optimism.

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