The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 has opened in Jeddah, featuring a scenography designed by OMA / Iyad Alsaka and Kaveh Dabiri. Titled "And All That Is In Between," the exhibition explores the role of faith in artistic expression and craftsmanship, showcasing over 500 historical objects and 29 contemporary art commissions – more than double the content of the inaugural edition.
OMA's scenography creates a unified experience through abstract forms that reinterpret archetypal architectural elements. Throughout the exhibition, a restrained material palette of white fabric, with subtle colour variations achieved through lighting, is used.
Ph. © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of © OMA
Iyad Alsaka, OMA Partner, commented, "It's an honour to continue working with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation on the second edition of the Biennale and to contribute to the expansion of this event, in Saudi Arabia and on the global art scene."
Kaveh Dabiri, OMA Associate, added, "Creating harmony and cohesion within the scenography design while establishing a dialogue between the historical and contemporary artworks on such a monumental scale has been both a significant undertaking and an inspiring process. We achieved this by adopting an abstract architectural language that materializes through lightness and translucency and moves away from conventional museum-like presentations."
Ph. © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the © Diriyah Biennale Foundation
Hosted under SOM's Hajj Terminal canopy at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport, the exhibition is organized into seven components: AlBidayah ("the Beginning"), AlMadar ("the Orbit"), AlMuqtani ("Homage"), AlMidhallah ("the Canopy"), AlMukarramah ("the Honored"), AlMunawwarah ("the Illuminated"), and AlMusalla, a space for prayer and gathering.
Ph. © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the © Diriyah Biennale Foundation
Key highlights include:
AlBidayah: Dedicated to the sacred, featuring curved translucent walls and showcasing the Kiswah—the cloth covering the Holy Kaaba—for the first time in its entirety outside Makkah, alongside other artefacts from Makkah and Madinah and contemporary artworks.
AlMadar: Featuring a forest of 37 abstract rectangular columns made of translucent textiles and illuminated from within, highlighting contributions from over 30 institutions across more than 20 countries.
AlMuqtani: A bowtie-shaped layout dividing the gallery into two symmetrical triangles, each showcasing a distinct collection within pleated walls and vitrines.
AlMidhallah: Presenting site-specific artworks on the theme of gardens in Islamic cultures, integrated with existing plantings in the outdoor space.
AlMukarramah & AlMunawwarah: These pavilions are dedicated to Makkah and Madinah, respectively. They showcase historical items, rare photographs and films, contemporary art installations, and gold-embroidered textiles.
Ph. © Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the © Diriyah Biennale Foundation
The curatorial team is led by Artistic Directors Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Muhannad Shono as Curator of Contemporary Art. The exhibition will run until May 25, 2025.
OMA's design was led by Partner Iyad Alsaka and Associate Kaveh Dabiri. This project builds on OMA's previous work for the first edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023. It adds to its extensive portfolio in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, which includes projects like the Qatar National Library and Concrete at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai.
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Cover image: Marco Cappelletti Courtesy of © OMA
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