Wednesday, May 8
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Student Center Plaza (building 18)
Join us for an artist talk accompanying Semantic Systems: A Solo Exhibition by preeminent Saudi artist Rashed AlShashai.
Renowned for his distinctive style that employs repurposed found objects to elicit thought-provoking conversations, AlShashai’s oeuvre playfully and irreverently questions socio-political issues, superficiality, modern apathy, suffocating media presence or materialistic belief systems.
In numerous instances within the exhibition, the artist beckons the viewer to observe his alchemical processes, where matter undergoes seemingly magical transmutation, transforming “things” into “thoughts.”
Through his Semantic Systems, AlShashai unveils underlying concepts that encourage contemplation on the efficient retrieval and manipulation of conceptual knowledge, as well as our perception of the subtle distinction between the timeless and the man-made, the spiritual and the mundane.
The discussion is moderated by Solkem N’Gangbet, Head Office of the Arts and Senior Curator.
About Rashed AlShashai
Rashed AlShashai (b. 1977) is a contemporary Saudi artist whose practice questions the philosophy underlying human existence and the dynamics of society. He is renowned for using local materials in his artworks that carry historical symbolism and cultural specificity while reflecting the evolution of the modern kingdom and its histories.
AlShashai’s art has graced exhibitions both domestically and internationally, with notable showcases at The Armory Show, USA (2015); The Station Museum of Contemporary Art, USA (2016); Bates College Museum of Art, USA (2016); Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, USA (2017); Palais de Tokyo, France (2019); Desert X AlUla (2020); Diriyah Biennale (2021) and Noor Riyadh (2021 and 2022), among other prestigious venues. AlShashai is the director of the Madina Arts Center in Al-Madinah.
About the Office of the Arts
Under the umbrella of The Office of the Provost, the Office of the Arts consists of a visual and performing arts team with a mission to promote art, science and culture in KAUST, the Kingdom, and in the wider global context.
For further information, contact officeofthearts@kaust.edu.sa and follow @KAUST_Arts on social media.
