The ‘AlHasa Hassana’ exhibition, held from the 11th of February to the 2nd of March in Jeddah, will showcase a collection of photographs by celebrated international photographers and the works of the winners of the second iteration of The Kingdom Photography Award.
eddah, Saudi Arabia,-– The Visual Arts Commission, under the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture, is thrilled to announce the unveiling of ‘AlHasa Hassana,’ a photography exhibition curated by Mohamed Somji, photographer, curator and Director of Gulf Photo Plus. The exhibition, showcasing winning entrants to The Kingdom Photography Award, as well as newly commissioned pieces by professional photographers, will be open to the public, with free admission, from the 11th of February to 2nd of March at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah.
For a second year running professional photographers from across the Kingdom and the world were invited to visit Saudi Arabia and tasked with capturing the Kingdom’s diversity and beauty through their lenses. Each year a different region of Saudi Arabia is chosen as the subject of the award, with the verdant oasis of Al-Ahsa serving as inspiration for the award’s latest iteration.
The professional photographers selected to participate in this year’s edition of the award and whose work will be on display at the ‘AlHasa Hassana’ exhibition are as follows:
Abdo Shanan (Algeria)
Alejandro Chaskielberg (Argentina)
Farah Foudeh (Jordan)
Latifa AlBokhari (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Tasneem Alsultan (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Mohamed Somji, the curator, said, “Al-Ahsa, since the dawn of history, has been a keeper of the memory of Saudi culture. It is more than its fertile soil and lush date palms. The landscape influences all aspects of Hassawi culture, from the food to the traditions to the rituals of everyday life. Today, it echoes with traces of journeys across time and kingdoms. ‘AlHasa Hassana’ distills the essence of Al-Ahsa, with our five photographers exploring the region and telling the stories of how intricate connections bind the people to their land.”
The exhibition invites attendees to explore the immersive narratives of these photographs as they capture the essence of Al-Ahsa. From Alejandro Chaskielberg’s dreamlike landscapes to Abdo Shanan’s intimate encounters in the streets, each artist weaves a unique tale. Tasneem Alsultan pays homage to the region’s elders, while Farah Foudeh envisions Al-Ahsa as a refuge for the dreams of young women, and Latifa AlBokhari traces memories of Al-Ahsa, juxtaposing the past with the aspirations of the present.
The Kingdom Photography Award also includes a competition open to members of the public. This year, under the theme ‘We Tell Stories’, the award invited participants to submit a series of photographs that express the Kingdom’s multifaceted narratives.
The five winning entries in the public competition will be announced on the 15th of February and their work displayed alongside the professional entrants. In addition, the winners will also each receive a prize of 20,000 SAR in cash and 20,000 SAR in vouchers.
Alongside the exhibition, a dynamic public program has been developed featuring panel discussions, photographic workshops, slidefests, and more. Admission is free, offering an opportunity for everyone to witness the diverse perspectives that ‘AlHasa Hassana’ has to offer.
To book tickets, please visit: https://dc.moc.gov.sa/home/ar/event-tickets/188/join-the-exhibition-opening-of-the-kingdom-photography-award-second-edition/
To learn more about the exhibition, please visit: https://engage.moc.gov.sa/tkpa/exhibition/
