Jeddah: The first Salon des Arts was held at the French official residence in Jeddah on Wednesday night, bringing together art, music and conversation between Saudi and French artists.
The program featured live performances and visual studies that reflected the spirit of cultural exchange and highlighted the growing cultural cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia.
In the evening, the French Consulate in Jeddah announced the creation of a new community of former resident artists at the Musee Internationale des Arts in Paris, an initiative supported by Saudi artists Zahra Bundakji and Dana Qari. The event also featured Saudi artists such as Jawed Fahmy, Zahiya Al Raddadi, Bricklab and Noor Ghalyi.
Mohamed Nehad, Consul General of France in Jeddah, said: “Many of the Saudi artists here have previously been in France as part of a residency program, and I liken this to a startup cocoon – a space that gives artists new tools, connects them with people around the world, and helps them grow and hone their skills.”
“Gatherings like this are essential to reconnect with these artists, showcase their work at the French House, and strengthen our bonds with each other. The French ethos has always been to bring together French artists and local talent to create together, to fuse French and Saudi flavors, and to build something meaningful that reflects both cultures.”
“Today’s Saudi art scene is incredibly young and energetic. These artists inspire and energize us with their great ideas and replenish our creative energy every time we meet.”
Cultural Secretary Quentin Richard said the event reflected the ongoing artistic dialogue between the two countries, saying: “The International Museum of Fine Arts in Paris and the artistic residencies here in Jeddah demonstrate the vitality of the dialogue between French and Saudi artists. They are promoting a dynamic of exchange based on creativity, mutual respect and the shared discovery of our two cultures.”
The French group Oriki, whose members include Woz Curry, Yan Saretes, Mourad Baytish, Michel Tessier, and Khaled Baytish, who is currently resident at High Cinema in collaboration with Saudi artist Salma Murad, also took part in the event.
A new artistic residency is set to begin in December, in partnership with the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum and Asr Gallery.
Oriki vocalist Woz Keiley said, “From our first visit until now, there has been an emotional connection to this area, the community, and the artists. As long as you have that emotional connection, you can create everything through art. During the event, we performed three songs that formed part of the CineConcert project, each inspired by a different movie scene.”
“Even without a screen, the aim is for the audience to imagine the story through the music and connect with its emotions. This is a preview of what we have been developing since arriving in Jeddah.”
For Bundakji, the Salon des Arts provided the public with a rare glimpse into the creative process itself.
“People know about the artists in the studio, but they don’t know what’s going on there. They don’t see the research, they don’t see the ideas, they don’t see the experiments, they don’t see the failures,” she said, adding that the event allowed visitors to engage directly in the artistic process.
“Between that studio and that final work, there is a big space where we can meet each other and share ideas, and that’s where friendships are made and community is born. I believe that’s what life is about, where people connect, where people talk about art, where my work and my name not only appear in the title, but where we get to know each other face-to-face,” she explained.
She described the evening as a space where visitors could explore and experience the research behind each piece and be “part of everyone’s studio practice.”
“I think it’s a beautiful space where people can come together and really have a conversation about life imitating art imitating life. We all see each other’s work in exhibits, but we don’t really get to know the emotion behind these works,” Cali said.
“Everything we create comes from something in our lives. It comes from stories, from emotions, from dreams, fears, failures. “It’s an intimate opportunity to create real connections between people and inspire each other.” To know you’re not alone, use the work of others as a muse for what we’re going through. After all, isn’t that the point of art and poetry? ”
