Diriyah Art Futures opens with a spectacular exhibit that traces the earliest computers
‘Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts’ runs from November 26 to February 15, 2025…
Imagine a centre where technology and art scholars gather alongside established and emerging New Media and Digital Artists to explore and develop future possibilities together. A place where they produce new work and implement research developed in-house, guided by a regional perspective, with a global view.
Welcome to Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the first new media arts hub in the MENA region, where digital dreams are transformed into reality.
The contemporary structure, perched upon the cliff of a wadi, near the Unesco site of At-Turaif in Diriyah, opens on Tuesday November 26, with its first major exhibition, ‘Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts’.
Curated by the renowned Jérôme Neutres, former director at the Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais in Paris, the exhibition brings together more than 30 global and regional artists to explore new forms of creative expression at a critical juncture of technological development.
‘Art Must Be Artificial’ will present a sweeping history of computer art, from the 1960s to the present day, featuring works by iconic regional and international artists. The exhibition includes Saudi talents Lulwah Alhomoud, Muhannad Shono, Nasser Alshemimry (DesertFish), and Daniah Al Saleh, whose works span geometric abstraction, robotic and audiovisual art, and digital installations, showcasing the innovative spirit of the Kingdom.
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Together, the works in the exhibition explore the intersections of media, culture, and technology, from the earliest computers to cutting-edge AI, as well as works that redefine creativity in the digital age.
See how these artists explore computational and robotic art, bridging history, innovation, and regional narratives.
It will also offer visitors a rare chance to see the incredible revolutionary use of AI, data, and digital landscapes. Have a look back at the world’s foremost computer art pioneers, such as Frieder Nake (Germany), Vera Molnar (Hungary/France), Harold Cohen (UK), and Manfred Mohr (Germany), who laid the foundations of algorithmic and computational art.
‘Art Must Be Artificial’ presents an intriguing regional connection while bridging past, present, and future to examine how algorithms and AI are transforming the nature of art creation. The exhibition runs until Saturday February 15, 2025 at Diriyah Art Futures.
Diriyah Art Futures also offers panel discussions, masterclasses, hands-on workshops, performances, and guided tours, designed to engage audiences in the dynamic intersection of art and technology. The activities, which feature prominent artists and scholars, provide an immersive experience for those looking to deepen their understanding of New Media Art.
Tickets for both the exhibition and public programmes are available through the Diriyah Art Futures website.
Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts, Nov 26 to Feb 15, 2025, Diriyah Art Futures, 3029 King Faisal Rd, Al Bujairi, 7719, Riyadh 13712. @DAFmoc
Images: Supplied / Social