From VR storytelling to sonic explorations, Diriyah Art Futures is diving deep into the world of new media art this May, and everyone’s invited.
As the region’s first dedicated hub for New Media Arts, DAF is rolling out a month-long programme designed to help visitors engage with the evolving relationship between art, technology and culture. The schedule includes Arabic-language professional courses, artist talks, dialogue sessions and hands-on workshops exploring extended reality, sound, memory and more.
At the centre of the programme is Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World, a sprawling exhibition running until July 19. Co-curated by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, the show brings together over 70 works by 40+ Arab artists. "Maknana," meaning mechanisation in Arabic, captures how artists in the region have engaged with, adapted, and sometimes resisted technology over the decades—crafting their own unique digital aesthetics along the way.
May Highlights
May 9–10
Artist Ahmed El Shaer leads a two-day VR masterclass, Object Narratives in VR Environments, exploring how physical objects can gain new meaning in virtual worlds. Using Oculus headsets and Unity software, participants will get hands-on with XR tech and rethink how reality and imagination overlap.
May 23–24
The Sound of Place invites attendees to explore Diriyah through field recordings and sound-mapping exercises. Expect immersive listening sessions, conversations about memory and culture, and a whole new way to hear the city.
May 24
Artist Magdi Mostafa presents Sonic Encounters, a talk exploring how sound functions not just as medium but as space, structure and concept. Expect insights from his acclaimed series Surface of Spectral Scattering and Sound Cells—plus reflections on light, movement and sound as interconnected artistic languages.
Also in the line-up
a live conversation with curators Nawar and Younis hosted by Mikey Muhanna, founder of afikra, on the themes behind Maknana and the evolving role of artists in a tech-saturated world. (Keep an ear out for the episode dropping on the afikra podcast).
Set against the backdrop of historic Diriyah, DAF continues to position itself at the cutting edge of regional art and innovation. With Saudi Vision 2030 aiming to make Riyadh a global cultural capital, events like this aren’t just timely—they’re shaping the future of creative dialogue in the Arab world.
???? Diriyah Art Futures, Riyadh
More info: daf.sa | @diriyahartfutures
