
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, January 27, 2025 — The second Islamic Arts Biennale, titled And All That Is In Between, opened to the public. His Excellency Rakan Bin Ibrahim Al-Touq, Assistant Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, attended the opening.
This Biennale is the world’s first and only biennial exhibition dedicated to the arts of Islamic civilization. A global project based in Saudi Arabia, it highlights the contemporary relevance of tradition by showcasing historical artifacts and new artistic commissions.
The 2025 Biennale features loans from over 30 leading global institutions, including the Vatican Apostolic Library (Vatican City), the Louvre Museum (Paris), and the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), as well as collections specializing in Islamic arts and cultures, such as the Ahmed Baba Institute (Timbuktu), the Museum of Islamic Art (Doha), and the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye (Istanbul). Partnerships with Saudi Arabian institutions also allow for the display of items from Makkah and Madinah.
The exhibition, spanning five halls and outdoor areas (100,000 square meters), presents over 500 objects alongside contemporary artworks. Over 30 artists from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region, and internationally are featured. This edition marks the first time the entire Kiswah—the cloth covering the Holy Kaaba—is displayed outside Makkah.
Artistic Directors Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, and Saudi artist Muhannad Shono (Curator of Contemporary Art) lead the Biennale, offering insights into global cultural interaction and preservation. Through juxtaposing historical and contemporary art, the Biennale explores faith’s expression through art.
Held in Jeddah, a historical crossroads of cultures, at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport, the exhibition runs until May 25, 2025.
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SOURCE Diriyah Biennale Foundation