Contemporary Kingdom

The Contemporary Kingdom: Second Edition book (published by Canvas Central on behalf of the Visual Arts Commission) showcases the continuing development of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art scene. Through text and extensive imagery across 432 pages, the book celebrates the diversity and vitality of the scene. It explores the Kingdom’s remarkable achievements in the visual arts sector over recent years (and since the first edition of the book in 2014, Contemporary Kingdom: The Saudi Art Scene Now).

The first section, The Ecosystem, includes four in-depth narratives considering aspects such as key milestones in the development of the current art scene, patronage, the evolution of local art infrastructure and the Kingdom’s position on the global art stage. It also features essays offering the perspectives of leading cultural experts such as Basma Al Shathry, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Iwona Blazwick, Dr Ashraf Fagih, Mona Khazindar, Dalal Majed, Dr Venetia Porter and Dr Nada Shabout.

The second section of the book, The Artists, is devoted to individual profiles on 55 currently active Saudi artists, looking at the ideas and experiences that inspire their work as well as at milestone events in their careers, and concludes with an essay of reflections by Chris Dercon.