After Rain brings together artists of diverse backgrounds who investigate the relationship between humans and nature, examine the built environment, observe and interact with the landscapes that surround us, recount histories, and encourage us to listen more closely. Conceived as a vibrant entity rather than a static framework, the Biennale’s multi-format platforms consist of an exhibition, the Biennale Encounters series of public programs, a film program, performances, research projects, and dialogues.
After Rain features 177 works from 100 artists and artist groups, of which over 30 are from the wider Gulf region. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation supported 47 new commissions from artists including Jumana Emil Abboud, Sara Abdu, Mohammad AlFaraj, Azra Akšamija, Tarek Atoui, Rachaporn Choochuey, Vikram Divecha, Christine Fenzl, Anne Holtrop, Armin Linke & Ahmed Mater, NJOKOBOK (Youssou Diop and Apolonija Šušteršič), and Camille Zakharia. There will also be a welcoming work by Tania Mouraud staged on a roundabout and a long-term project by Mariah Lookman presented at Shamalat, a cultural space at the periphery of old Diriyah.
Many of the artworks included in After Rain share a focus on basic human needs such as water, food, and shelter. The works are rooted in artistic research and informed by the curatorial team’s trips across Saudi Arabia, which resulted in a multigenerational artistic conversation. The Biennale presents a multisensory experience—foregrounding touch, taste, and smell in addition to sight and sound—and invites visitors to become part of an immersive journey.
The exhibition occupies six expansive halls across 12,900 square metres and also extends into adjacent courtyards and terraces, turning these areas into works of art and social spaces. Various shaded gathering places are introduced, including a communal kitchen and a juice bar. A year-long series of artist talks, workshops, and presentations of sound and performance art, titled Biennale Encounters, has been welcoming local audiences since April 2023. A purpose-built black box theater will showcase ten films on rotation, and a special area is dedicated to research-based works and the processes that inform exhibited artworks. The Learning Garden, a digital extension of the Biennale, will continue after the exhibition closes in May.
