Partner Content: The exhibition showcases the power of digital art.
Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) has unveiled its inaugural exhibition, Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts, running until 15 February 2025. Developed by the Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, DAF is the first New Media Art hub in the MENA region, empowering the next generation of artists, technologists and scholars to navigate future challenges and redefine the boundaries of creativity. DAF’s Art Must Be Artificial exhibition turns a spotlight onto the power of new media artworks created at the intersection of digital art and artificial intelligence.
Curated by Jérôme Neutres, former director at the Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais, Paris, Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts brings together more than 30 regional and international artists, inviting visitors on a sweeping journey through the evolution of computer art—from early digital explorations to today’s AI-driven masterpieces, from the 1960s to the present day.
Several prominent local talents are included in the inaugural exhibition, such as Saudi artists Lulwah Alhomoud, Muhannad Shono, Nasser Alshemimry (DesertFish), and Daniah Al Saleh. The exhibition also includes notable artists from the MENA region, such as VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr, Egypt/US) and Haythem Zakaria (Tunisia), whose creations range from geometric abstraction to robotic art, audiovisual experiences and digital installations.
Internationally acclaimed contributors include Refik Anadol (Türkiye), Ryoji Ikeda (Japan), Miguel Chevalier (Mexico/France), and Yang Yongliang (China), each known for their revolutionary use of AI, data, and digital landscapes. The exhibition also celebrates early New Media Art pioneers such as Frieder Nake (Germany), Vera Molnar (Hungary/France), Harold Cohen (UK), and Manfred Mohr (Germany), who laid the foundations of algorithmic and computational art. Other prominent names include Peter Kogler (Austria), Elias Crespin (Venezuela), Casey Reas (US), Daniel Rozin (US), John Gerrard (Ireland), Leonel Moura (Portugal), and Alan Rath (US), whose practices redefine creativity in the digital age.
Art Must Be Artificial curator Jérôme Neutres explained: “This exhibition seeks to explore a profound transformation, where artists are not just creators but architects of a new digital age. By embracing the power of AI and computational technology, contemporary artists are redefining the boundaries of art, opening infinite possibilities for the future.”
“At Diriyah Art Futures, we are presenting a dialogue between past pioneers and today’s visionaries, showcasing how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is uniquely well-positioned to lead these critical conversations in the global art world”.
The exhibition’s location in Saudi Arabia, a nation with a dynamic and tech-savvy young population, serves as an ideal backdrop for exploring the evolving intersection of art and technology. With the term “algorithm” tracing its origins to the Islamic world, Art Must Be Artificial offers a compelling regional connection while seamlessly bridging the past, present, and future.
In addition to the exhibition, Diriyah Art Futures is hosting a series of public programmes, including masterclasses, practical workshops, talks and performances.
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GO: Visit https://daf.moc.gov.sa for more information.
