Athr Gallery announced the soft opening of ALAMAAT on December 26, 2024, an exhibition featuring works by artists Daniah Al Saleh and Susanne Kriemann. Created during their residency in AlUla, with support from the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy, the exhibition is curated by Salma Al Khalidi and explores the convergence of art, archaeology, and cultural exchange. This marks the first presentation of ALAMAAT in AlUla, a site of profound historical significance.
The residency, undertaken in 2023 as part of DAI’s 20th anniversary of excavations in Saudi Arabia, enabled the artists to immerse themselves in the archaeological landscapes of Tayma and AlUla, unearthing the interplay between ancient histories and contemporary realities.
ALAMAAT invites viewers to reflect on the ways historical and contemporary narratives intertwine, shaping our understanding of the world and our evolving relationship with time and the environment. Daniah Al Saleh’s work focuses on carnelian stones and beads—semi-precious gemstones found in ancient artefacts—examining their role in bridging past human activities with modern contexts. Susanne Kriemann explores the paradoxical coexistence of ancient relics and modern consumer waste, revealing contrasts between visible and hidden environmental challenges. The exhibition emphasises the marks left by history and humanity’s fleeting actions, encouraging a deeper contemplation of our legacy. By framing the desert as a living space where the past, present, and future intersect, ALAMAAT invites viewers to consider the enduring impact of human presence.
About Daniah Alsaleh
Daniah AlSaleh (b. 1970, Saudi Arabia) is a Saudi artist whose work examines memory and cultural conditioning, challenging societal assumptions through diverse materials and techniques. Her art deconstructs meanings, offering perspectives on human fragility and vulnerability. She has showcased at the Diriyah Biennale, Biennale Sur, and Hermitage Museum, and earned the Ithra Art Prize in 2019. Alsaleh holds an MFA in Computational Art from Goldsmiths.
About Susanne Kriemann
Susanne Kriemann (b. 1972, Germany) is a Berlin-based artist and professor at the University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe and NYU Berlin. She explores landscapes as analog “recording systems” for human impact, using materials like microplastics and radioactive elements. Kriemann has exhibited at The Wattis, Kunsthalle Wien, and the Diriyah Biennale and participated in residencies with NTU CCA Singapore and Goethe Institute Colombo.
About Salma Al Khalidi
Salma Al Khalidi (b. 1994, Germany/Egypt) is a Dubai-based curator and gallery director with expertise in Contemporary and Modern art. She has curated exhibitions globally and worked with prestigious galleries like Hedonist Gallery, Art D’Égypte, and Carrie Able Gallery. Al Khalidi holds a BA in Interior Design from Chelsea College of Art, an MA in Art History from SOAS, and is studying Art Law at Sotheby’s.
Location: Athr Gallery, AlUla
Dates: December 26, 2024, to March 26, 2025.
