A spectacular journey through 80 major works of modern and contemporary art (by Picasso, Kandinsky, Joan Mitchell, and Hockney to Manal AlDowayan, Etel Adnan, and Imran Qureshi) in the future spaces of the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art in AlUla, an oasis located on the ancient incense route, taking the image of the “garden in the desert” as a starting point for artistic reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and nature.
Arduna, which translates to "our land" in Arabic, is presented as part of the pre-opening program of the upcoming contemporary art museum from The Royal Commission for AlUla. Co-curated in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou and the support of French Agency for AlUla development (AFALULA), brings together major masterpieces by international and regional artists from both institutions' collections. This book showcased more than 80 artworks from various discipline, gathered in the exhibition held in AlUla from February to April 2026.
Drawing inspiration from the site of AlUla, uses the allegory of the garden to reveal how modern and contemporary artists explore our evolving relationship to nature and the land. Organised into six chapters, the exhibition delves into nature's multiple manifestations, both real and imagined, on a journey through gardens, forests, deserts and their constellatory reflections in the cosmos. Through showcasing compelling and thought-provoking artworks, the exhibition tackles challenges the world encounters today, examining notions of the threat of climate change, migratory displacement, the spread of urbanization, and the Anthropocene, defined as the age of humanity's profound impact on the planet.
