Abstract/Summary

Participatory art practice in Saudi Arabia in the 21st century has become an increasingly important form of art, found in numerous exhibitions and events presented by institutions and artists. Yet little research has been done on the emergence, challenges, and goals of the participatory art practices of artists and art institutions in the Saudi context. Participatory art in Saudi Arabia requires us to create a new critical framework to understand its art historical significance and better understand the phenomenon in a Saudi context (for the viewer and from the standpoint of the artists involved with this approach). A close look at current contemporary art practices shows that there is an ambition to embody an open, if not outright, participatory and interactive experience that encourages public participation. After the initiation of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi officials noticed that art in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could also be used to foster societal development and to develop stronger international relations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia globally. In this context, my research aims to define important fields linked with Saudi Arabian participatory art practices, and closely examine ideas of interactivity and participation. It focuses on the artists’ motivations and intentions when presenting these artworks. Ethical issues (both for the institutions and artists) are explored, as well as the position of the institution as the funder for artists and their commissioned work. Questions about the social and cultural factors that condition participatory art practices in Saudi Arabia are addressed, and the different views artists take towards such practices are considered. This will also include a thorough analysis of how the cultural programme Saudi Vision 2030 is affecting the participatory art practices of certain artists and art institutions. Through the examination of these issues, I open up a set of questions that lead to new and original understandings of participatory art practice in Saudi Arabia and critically explore the challenges and goals of key Saudi contemporary artists. To accomplish this task, a qualitative method was applied to examine the role of artists and art institutions. This study has been conducted using a variety of data collection methods, including literature research, visits to exhibitions, and 9 interviews.