Rhizoma: (Generation in Waiting) -the Saudi Arabian Pavilion at this year’s Venice Bienalle produced by Edge of Arabia and co-curated by Sara Raza - opened on May 30 to critical acclaim. The exhibition features a number of young Saudi artists and, in particular, considers their interest in new-media practices.

“Rhizoma: (Generation in Waiting)” was an Edge of Arabia production, co-curated by Sara Raza [AAP‘s West and Central Asia desk editor], featured young Saudi artists and looked at their interest in new-media practices. Here, Basmah Felemban’s Drawn Out Truths(2013), consisting of glass sheets etched with patterns resembling at niqab or burqah that viewers could put their face behind. 

The exhibition will show the works of the following artists many of whom are creating new works unique to the exhibition; Abdulkarim Qassem, Abdullah Alothman, Ahaad Alamoudi, Ahmad Angawi, Basmah Felemban, Batool Alshomrani, Dana Awrtani, Eiman Elgibreen, Eyad Maghazil, Heba Abed, Huda Beydoun, Majid Althobaity, Mala’a Al-Amoudi, Mohammad Makki, Nasser Salem, Nora A.Almazrooa, Nouf Alhimiary, Omamah AlSadiq, Ramy Alqthamy, Saeed Salem, Sami Al-Turki, Sarah AbuAbdallah, Sarah Al Abdali, Shaweesh, and YouTube sensations Telfaz 11 and U-Turn.

Speaking about her favorite artists, Felemban relates to “Shirin Neshat, her feminine strength and how she’s connected to her roots and culture. Da vinci and how his work is a celebration of science and art; he broke boundaries and followed his guts; and finally, Mounir Fatmi.”

Felemban plans to pursue MA in Islamic Art at The Prince’s School of Traditional Art in London. “And now that I’ve signed exclusively with Athr Gallery I think it is going to be a great experience making contemporary art the same time I’m studying pure traditional art.”