Inside the Islamic Arts Biennale | HE Rakan Altouq & Dr Julian Raby

In this episode of the afikra podcast, host Mikey Muhanna speaks with His Excellency Rakan Altouq – Vice Chair of the Diriyah Biennale Arts Foundation and Assistant Minister for Culture of Saudi Arabia – and Dr Julian Raby, one of the artistic directors of the Islamic Arts Biennale. Live from the historic Hajj terminal in Jeddah, they discuss the significance of this architectural marvel and its role as a fitting venue for the Biennale, aimed at showcasing the richness and diversity of Islamic arts and culture. This edition, themed "وما بينهما," (AND ALL THAT IS IN BETWEEN), includes seven unique components that explore various aspects of Islamic art, from sacred texts and artifacts to contemporary installations. The conversation delves into the deep emotional and intellectual impact that the Biennale hopes to achieve, the inclusive and interdisciplinary approach adopted by the artistic directors, and the Biennale's resonance with both local and international visitors. The discussion emphasizes the Biennale's potential to reshape narratives, provoke new thoughts, and foster a sense of pride and identity among attendees.

00:00 Introduction 
00:32 Significance of the Hajj Terminal
06:00 Overview of the Islamic Arts Biennale
10:06 Exploring ALBIDAYAH
18:46 A Holistic Experience Beyond Objects 
25:09 Diversity of ALMADAR Section and ALMUQTANI Collection 
30:37 Looking at Islam and Islamic Arts Holistically 
43:45 The Role of Contemporary Art
52:56 Impact and Future of the Biennale

His Excellency Rakan Altouq is the Vice Chairman of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and assistant minister of culture of Saudi Arabia. 

Dr Julian Raby is a co-director of the Diriyah Islamic Art Biennale and the Director Emeritus of the National Museum of Asian Art of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC (formerly known as the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M Sackler Gallery). He served as director of these museums from 2002 until 2017, and previously, he was a university lecturer in Islamic Art & Architecture at the University of Oxford from 1979 until 2006.

The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 provides a holistic platform for new discourse about Islamic arts, offering an unparalleled space for learning, research, and insight. By juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures, the Biennale explores how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated through feeling, thinking, and making. It offers a unique platform for artists to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and the intersection of past and present, while fostering cross-cultural connections and expanding the global understanding of Islamic art and culture.

More about the Islamic Arts Biennale 👉 https://biennale.org.sa/en

Hosted by: 
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

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