Art and all that is in between at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia

John McDonald | The Nightly | 31st January 2025

Saudi Arabia is pouring huge resources into its post-oil future. The Islamic Arts Biennale is but one example of that agenda. There is a contemporary section, but most works are historical and of “staggering quality”. Besides exquisite items on loan from the Vatican and elsewhere, there is also last year’s kiswah – the cloth that covers the holy shrine in Mecca. The over-riding aim of the Biennale is to increase the status of Islam. As the writer notes “if you want to achieve wonders, you’ve got to have faith,”