Issue 91

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a new wave of cultural currents and this issue is dedicated to documenting these changes. There is a newfound urgency, historical depth and a strong desire to produce and express. Our section Focus: Saudi is a reportage packed with insights, including exclusive interviews with the mentors, patrons and institutions that help the local art scene flourish. We’ve bypassed the usual suspects to seek out the new faces who are emerging in this vibrant field. We find out how 21,39 began, why it has been such a success and what to expect in the latest edition. We visit Ithra and inform ourselves on the ambitious programmes of the Ministry of Culture. Also in this issue is a preview of Desert X in Al Ula which leads us to other, similar large-scale architectural formations and art disruptions including Art D’Égypte’s takeover of a historic Cairo street to Abdul Rahman Katani’s installations made out of refugee shelters in Beirut. Also in this issue are visits to Art Basel, Bienalsur, Videobrasil and on the way we visit Marwan Rechmaoui, Shirin Neshat and Rayyane Tabet, among others.