Opening: Wednesday November 1st 6pm Until a few years ago JAX was a forgotten industrial area in Al-Diriyah. It is now undergoing a vigorous process of revival and gentrification through the redesign and layout of streets, green spaces, transportation and, most importantly, the opening of artists' studios and exhibition venues aimed at contributing to the development of a dynamic artistic ecosystem. Consequently, art has become the hallmark of JAX's urban identity, making this area of Riyadh a highly attractive space. With a site-based approach, BIENALSUR has shown a special interest in working in the public space ever since its first edition in 2017. The singularity of JAX prompted us to conceive an exhibition that would go beyond the architectural boundaries of the art space and "spread out" into the urban environment. Thus, the exhibition project takes over the street, incorporating and reinvigorating it with art installations that will surprise the unsuspecting spectator. This was the idea behind the selection of a corpus of works especially chosen to engage in a dialogue with the location, while each of them seeks to foster an experience that challenges the imagination and reflection of the visitors to Riyadh's art district. The exhibition Imagine is on display in two different locations: the urban environment and the SAMOCA halls. The works in the public area are at the same time a sign of attention and a surprising presence that modifies the perception of space to reveal new or unexpected aspects that shed light on fantasy and creativity. Most of the selected international artists, whose works are mostly new projects or site-specific versions especially created for Riyadh, are referents of the type of work on show. Each of them will leave their mark on the territory and trace the imaginary itinerary of each visitor through the exhibition. The SAMOCA building - Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art - in JAX will also appear as a new presence in the region and its façade will interact with the public space, seeking a connection between the exterior and the interior to give continuity to the imaginary, surprising and kaleidoscopic experience that the exhibition Imagine intends to trigger. This unprecedented format in BIENALSUR's cartography introduces an expanded curatorial exercise that encourages an attentive and creative approach, stirs the imagination and fantasy, and brings in aspects related to the environment and cultural memory, which are currently at the centre of global agendas.
Imagen: Ugo Schiavi
