Not Deserted: AlUla’s Archives in Movement

16 Jan - 14 Feb | 14:00 - 22:00

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Two distinct visual perspectives explore AlUla’s desert as a shifting archive - shaped by wind, water and the evolving gaze of artists across time.

Key info

Price range

Free entry

Booking

No advance booking required

Age limit

All ages welcome

Accessibility

Wheelchair and stroller accessible


Overview

This exhibition, supported by ICCD Rome, explores AlUla’s desert as a living archive, sculpted by wind and water, layered with memory, and alive with meaning. Featuring early 20th-century photographs by Tony André and contemporary cinematic works by Saad Tahaitah, it invites viewers to reflect on how the desert has been seen, documented, and reimagined across generations.

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Meet the artist

Tony André

A French photographer active in the early 20th century, Tony André's images - now exhibited in Saudi Arabia for the first time - offer historical insight into desert terrains and the aesthetic of early documentation.

Saad Tahaitah

A Saudi-based filmmaker, Saad Tahaitah presents a contemporary response to AlUla’s terrain through experimental film. Created during a residency drawing on local archives, his work blends memory, image, and imagination to reinterpret the desert today.

At the venue

Parking is available at Old Town North Parking; the venue for Not Deserted: AlUla's Archives in Movesment is in AlJadidah Arts District - a short walk, buggy or bus ride away.

  • Please ensure no-contact with objects/exhibits
  • Kindly switch off your phones
  • Suitable for all ages

Meeting locations

Old Town North Parking