Visual Arts Commission Launches ‘Zawaya Wa Afkar’ Initiative in Paris

The Visual Arts Commission (VAC) has announced the launch of the first international edition of the Dialogues in Contemporary Art “Zawaya Wa Afkar” initiative, scheduled to take place in Paris on Saturday, February 15. This initiative is part of the commission’s efforts to support Saudi visual artists and promote creative exchange that highlights the richness of the Saudi cultural scene on the global art stage, in line with the National Culture Strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.

 Titled When the Earth Began to Look at Itself, the first edition draws inspiration from an artwork created by Syn Architects as part of Desert X AlUla. It explores the evolving relationship between humans and nature from a contemporary artistic perspective.

 This edition brings together several Saudi artists, as well as international philosophers and curators, in three public discussion sessions. These dialogues aim to delve into innovative artistic strategies that reconsider humanity’s responsibility toward the planet’s environment—an issue that has gained global attention in recent years.

 VAC Chief Executive Officer Dina Amin emphasized that the initiative seeks to celebrate the creativity of contemporary Saudi artists and provide a platform for sharing diverse ideas in contemporary art. She noted that bringing together Saudi artists with their international counterparts is intended to inspire meaningful discussions and encourage innovative artistic practices that foster cultural exchange.