
The Bright Side of the Desert Moon - Noor Riyadh 2023
Curated by Jérôme Sans, Pedro Alonzo, Alaa Tarabzouni and Fahad Bin Naif
Curated by Jérôme Sans (Lead Curator), Pedro Alonzo, Alaa Tarabzouni and Fahad Bin Naif
With: Sarah Abu Abdullah, Mohammad Al Faraj, Monira Al Qadiri, Pharah Al-Ghalib & Amr Abuzaid, Sara Al-Mutlaq, Nevin Aladag, Abdullah Alamoudi, Dr. Zahrah Alghamdi, Madhawi Algwaiz, Nawaf Alkuhaimi, Hana Almilli, Huda Alnasir, Arwa Alneami, Suliman Alsalem, Iván Argote, Dana-Fiona Armour, Christopher Bauder, Sultan Bin Fahad, Bianca Bondi, Stefan Brüggemann, ByTwo, Vivian Caccuri, Julian Charrière, Miguel Chevalier, Claudia Comte, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jose Dávila, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Rafael Domenech, DRIFT, Sam Durant, Janet Echelman, Alicia Framis, FriendsWithYou, Laurent Grasso, Shilpa Gupta, Simon Heijdens, Jeppe Hein, Gregor Hildebrandt, Carsten Höller, Max Hooper Schneider, Chourouk Hriech, Yinka Ilori, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan, Lucia Koch, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, Sophie Laly, Ange Leccia, Chris Levine, Khaled Makhshoush, Guadalupe Maravilla, Angelika Markul, Moon & Jeon, Mariko Mori, Mel O’Callaghan, Hayat Osamah, OSGEMEOS, Phi Studio, Li Qing, Quayola, Younes Rahmoun, Random International, Tobias Rehberger, Bruno Ribeiro, Ibrahim Romman, Gauthier Roumagne, Rafael Rozendaal, Sam Samore, Ugo Schiavi, Marinella Senatore, Muhannad Shono, Shoplifter, Melanie Smith, Edra Soto, Studio Bound, Superflex, Diana Thater, Oscar Tuazon, Vhils, Julius Von Bismarck, Erwin Wurm.
30th November 16th - December 2023 - Riyadh - Saudi
7 locations in the city : Financial District - JAX - Salam Park - Wadi Namar - Wadi Hanifa - Digital City - Via Riyadh
As one of the most ambitious festivals of its kind, Noor Riyadh is a citywide celebration of light and art, transforming the urban landscape into an open-air museum. Rooted in the vibrant cosmopolitan capital of Saudi Arabia, the 2023 edition, with Jérôme Sans as its lead curator, alongside Pedro Alonzo, Alaa Tarabzouni and Fahad Bin Naif, will open on November 30th and run until December 16th 2023. An urban project in one of the fastest developing cities on earth, the festival showcases a world in full mutation, like a whirlwind in the desert. In the midst of these accelerated transformations, the festival aims to write a story spread out in several locations, like a symphony in different acts within the city which unfolds at night.
Set in Riyadh, a burgeoning metropolis planted in the middle of vast arid land, the exhibition considers the desert as a place of reconnection where our differences dissipate. Desert light blinds as much as it guides us, deceives as much as it leaves us awestruck. Descending rays refract and seem to bend back towards us: light, they reveal, is not stagnant but moves around the atmosphere, as if sowing seeds or watering the dry, uniform grounds.
Particularly prone to the mirage phenomenon, emblematic of what can be seen but never reached, Riyadh is transformed into an intangible garden where light is understood as the universal force building our contemporary world and interpersonal relationships. Apprehended as both vitally natural and increasingly artificial, from the first flames that allowed humanity to settle and develop, to the brightness of technological screens today, light has guided the history of humanity. If the grand cable were to be unplugged, depriving humanity of this binding radiant energy, the course of our lives and the world as we know it would immediately come to a halt, inconceivably disturbed. Situated at the very core of the structure of society, light is the umbilical cord of our world, be it economic, political, sociological, or cultural.
A potent metaphor of our contemporary world, the desert is here the figure of today’s Meta cities in which one is easily overwhelmed by information. In this extremely interconnected world, individuals have paradoxically never been so disconnected. Anonymity amidst the crowd is paradoxically paired with accessible celebrity, even if fleetingly – a Warholian 15 minutes of fame made possible by social media. The exhibition twists the vision of the desert as a decontextualizing force which pushes to rethink our relationships, and to reconsider anonymity as a way to reconnect.
Embracing technological progress as well as paying attention to the history of humanity’s perception of light, The Bright Side of the Desert Moon thus aims to channel the diversity that composes our world within a shared experience through the artworks. It goes against our individualist tendencies and celebrates the common light that warms, comforts and connects us all.
"The Bright Side of the Desert Moon aims to channel the diversity that composes our world within a shared experience through the artworks. It goes against our individualist tendencies and celebrates the common light that warms, comforts and connects us all." - Jérôme Sans

Jérôme Sans, Pedro Alonzo, Alaa Tarabzouni and Fahad Bin Naif

LAURENT GRASSO
Future Herbarium, 2023
Site specific 3D animation, LiDAR scans
Digital City Towers, Riyadh
© Laurent Grasso © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

BRUNO RIBEIRO
All is Well, 2023
Laser light panels, moving lights, LED strip lights, sky beam, scaffolding
3.67 x 3.67 x 20.21 m
© Bruno Ribeiro © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

UGO SCHIAVI
The Day the Sand Caught Fire
Clear resin, various recycled materials, LED strips on metal structure
4 x 4 x 5 m
© Ugo Schiavi © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

JOSE DÁVILA,
Luminous Whispers, 2023
Cast concrete, stainless steel, metal, light
4 sculptures: 3.45 x 2.30 x 1.8 cm
© Jose Dávila © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Ayman Yossri Daydban, Tree House, 2023
Site-specific installation, wood 15.30 x 10.10 x 4.97 m
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Mario Guerra

GUADALUPE MARAVILLA
Falling Lightning Bolt, 2023
Bronze and other metals
7 m
© Guadalupe Maravilla © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MONIRA AL QADIRI,
Monument, 2023
Aluminium sculpture
1 x 4.50 m
© Monira Al Qadiri © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

DANA-FIONA ARMOUR
Solenoglyphous C.C., 2023
Opaline glass, solar lights
Site-specific installation, 25 pieces of 1.20 x 0.05 x 0.35 m each
© Dana-Fiona Armour © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

CLAUDIA COMTE,
Monument to the Disappearing Forests, 2023
80 spruce trunks, 1 oak trunk, LED lights
17 x 6 x 17 m
© Claudia Comte © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SHILPA GUPTA,
WE CHANGE EACH OTHER, 2023
Animated light installation
10 x 5 m
© Shilpa Gupta © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

ANGELIKA MARKUL,
Zone Iguazu, 2013
Video projection on cliff
4'18"" loop
© Angelika Markul © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Vivian Caccuri, Fourth World, 2023
Speakers, amplifiers, stage lights. Score in collaboration with Hasan Nakhleh
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

JANET ECHELMAN
Earthtime 1.26 Riyadh, 2023
Nylon and UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) fiber, coloured lighting
Dimensions of net: 43 x 29 x 6 m
Dimensions of installation structure: 77 x 81 m
© Janet Echelman © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

CARSTEN HÖLLER,
Decimal Clock (Blue and Orange), 2023
Neon, cables, aluminium structure, DMX boxes, controller
2.32 x 2.32 m
© Carsten Höller and Gagosian © Noor Riyadh & Havas

MAX HOOPER SCHNEIDER,
Falling Angel, 2023
Aircraft wreckage, fluorescent light tubes, Tesla coils, vintage neon signs, chains, crushed concrete, mixed media fiberglass pond, microcontroller
3.962 x 2.515 x 4.115 m
© Max Hooper Schneider © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SUPERFLEX,
Vertical Migration, 2021
Video projection
20’ loop
Vertical Migration, 2021 was originally commissioned by ART 2030 and TBA21–Academy, and developed in close collaboration with Kollision
© Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

NEVIN ALADAĞ,
Pattern Kinship, Flowers, 2023
© Nevin Aladağ © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Zahrah AlGhamdi, Life, 2023
Site-specific installation, transparent plastic, soil, epoxy, and metal structures
Variable dimensions
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

IVÁN ARGOTE,
The Other, Me & the Others, 2023
Galvanized metal structure, protective net, LED lights, wooden flooring
15 x 3 x 2.3 m
© Iván Argote © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SOPHIE LALY,
FADING #10, 2023
© Sophie Laly © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MARIKO MORI
At the Beginning, 2023
Video
1'55''
© Mariko Mori Sound by Ken Ikeda Courtesy of the Artist and Sean Kelly Gallery, New York and Los Angles and SCAI the Bathhouse, Tokyo © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

TOBIAS REHBERGER
Lost to Find, 2023
Neon signs
20 x 5 m
© Tobias Rehberger © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MEL O’CALLAGHAN
The Source, 2023
© Mel O’Callaghan, Courtesy the artist, Galerie Allen, Paris and Cassandra Bird Gallery, Sydney © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

OSGEMEOS
Experience, 2022-2023
Wood, metal, paint, LED lights, mirrors, spray paint, A/C
13 x 4.9 x 14 m
© OSGEMEOS © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

STEFAN BRÜGGEMANN,
Obliteration (Make it Pop), 2023
Neon Tube
5 x 3.3 m
© Stefan Brüggemann © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

YOUNES RAHMOUN
Khasla-Zoujaja, 2023
Two rooms, glass, enameled steel, LED, electric cable, electricity, and mirrors
8 x 15 x 8 m
© Younes Rahmoun © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SAM SAMORE
Eyes, 2023
Single-channel video projection
9’
© Sam Samore © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MARINELLA SENATORE
We Rise by Lifting Others, 2023
Neon, LED lights, wood, aluminum and steel
32 x 6.5 m
Courtesy of the Artist and Mazzoleni Art, London, Torino © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MUHANNAD SHONO,
Absent Sky, 2023
Kinetic technology, fabric, lighting
10.33 x 5.53 m
©Muhannad Shono © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SHOPLIFTER
Xanadu II, 2023
Synthetic hair extensions, LED lights
20 poles of 8 m, 7 m, 6 m, and 5 m
© Shoplifter © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

YINKA ILORI
Block Cubes, 2021
In collaboration with the Skate-able Object Park by Unique Design X
600 sqm skate park
© Unique Design X The Skate-able object park, 2023 © Yinka Ilori © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

OSCAR TUAZON
Light Rings, 2023
Laminated wood
8 rings, 5 m diameter each
© Oscar Tuazon © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

RAFAEL ROZENDAAL
Diagram; Non either; Through; Shape squeeze; Double Room, 2023.
Series of videos on loop
© Rafael Rozendaal © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

DRIFT
Drone show
12'30''
3 000 drones
© DRIFT © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

DIANA THATER
A Wild Kingdom, 2023
Video projection
350 x 30 m
© Diana Thater © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Chris Levine,
Molecule of Light, 2021
Steel sculpture with fluorescent lacquer, transducer sound beam, meteorite, UV, and laser elements
25 m height, 6 m diameter (sphere)
© Sphere9 Limited and Chris Levine, all rights reserved DACS 2023
© Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

ALICIA FRAMIS
Leave Here Your Fears, 2023
Canvas, fluorescent tape, mirror, and stained steel
20 canvases 1.5 x 1 m each
© Alicia Framis © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

ALICIA FRAMIS
Leave Here Your Fears, 2023
Canvas, fluorescent tape, mirror, and stained steel
Sculpture 2.5 x 2.35 m
© Alicia Framis © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Khaled Makhshoush, Untitled, 2023
Site-specific installation, LED screen 4.5 x 2.5 m
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

Madhawi AlGwaiz, Thurayya, 2023
Site-specific installation 10 x 6 m
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

ANGE LECCIA
Arrangement. Terrestial Globes, 1991-2023
220 luminous terrestial globes
0.42m diameter each
© Ange Leccia © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

FRIENDSWITHYOU
Nature's Gift, 2017
Cold air inflatable
10.7 x 4.57 x 16.9 m
© FriendsWithYou © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

MIGUEL CHEVALIER
Magic Carpets - The Orign of the World, 2023
Generative and interactive virtual reality installation
Software: Cyrille Henry, Antoine Villeret
© Miguel Chevalier, Software: Cyrille Henry & Antoine Villeret © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

OSGEMEOS
Experience, 2022-2023
Video
1'50''
© OSGEMEOS © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

SAM DURANT
Seven Electric Signs, 2002-2019
Electric sign with vinyl text
© Sam Durant © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

GREGOR HILDEBRANDT
Behind the Curtain Shines the Light, 2023
VHS tapes, wooden structure, LED
13.45 x 3.51 x 9.03 m
© Gregor Hildebrandt © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

LI QING
The House East of Eden, 2023
Color and printed stickers, neon lights
2.35 x 3.60 m
© Li Qing © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

JAKOB KUDSK STEENSEN
Catharsis, 2019-2020
2D Cinematic Simulation; Single frame perspective; multichannel outputs run simultaneously in sync
12'
© Jakob Kudsk Steensen © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

JULIAN CHARRIÈRE,
Controlled Burn, 2022
4K video,
16:9 aspect ratio, 3D ambisonic soundscape Continuous video loop, 32'
© Julian Charrière © Noor Riyadh & Havas
JULIAN CHARRIÈRE,
Midnight Zone, 2023
Site-specific installation
© Julian Charrière © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissionned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

ANGE LECCIA
The Sea, 1991-2023
Video
45'41''
© Ange Leccia © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

RAFAEL DOMENECH
Meeting at the Edge of the Heat, 2023
Aluminum structure, printed fabric, wooden benches, lights
4 x 14.08 x 13.56 m
© Alicia Framis © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art

KYUNGWON MOON & JOONHO JEON
News from Nowhere: Eclipse, 2022-2023
Single channel HD video installation with LED light, aluminum structure
17'
© Moon Kyungwon and Jeon Joonho © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

RANDOM INTERNATIONAL
Living Room, 2022
With a score by Max Richter
Custom LED array, custom optics, fog, CNC machined tiles, hanging system, custom tracking system, PC, custom software
300 sqm
© Random International in partnership with Aorist © Noor Riyadh & Havas
Presented by RCRC and Riyadh Art

Huda Alnasir, Last Seen, 2023
Site-specific installation, 8 wooden doors 1.28 x 2.40 m each
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

Sarah Abu Abdullah, Deep Waters, 2023, Video, 10' loop
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas

Sultan Bin Fahad, V1:S1:0NS, 2023
Site-specific installation, concrete, glass, and mirrors 14 x 6 m
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art
© Havas