Ithra unveils installation inspired by Saudi agricultural heritage at Spain’s Concéntrico Festival
The immersive installation was commissioned by Ithra and created by Saudi artist Raghad Al-Ahmed
Dhahran – Asdaf News:
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), a cultural institution in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, unveils an immersive installation inspired by Saudi agricultural heritage at the Concéntrico International Festival of Architecture and Design in Logroño, Spain (19 -24 June).
Participating in the Festival for the second consecutive year, Ithra continues to expand its footprint across the international design landscape and presents Rooted in Warmth by Saudi multimedia artist Raghad Al-Ahmed, alongside an Ithra-supported sensory experience delivered by Saudi-based visual narrative studio Nclass on 19 June.
The installation is created in collaboration with over 50 female artisans in Al-Jawf, northern Saudi Arabia, and inspired by the artist’s roots in the Hejazi community, specifically in the western city of Taif where gatherings under the shade of trees form an integral part of rural life. Reviving this moment of connection through a contemporary lens, the immersive installation encourages visitors to interact with, enter and even climb the structure, to experience the work’s celebration of the deep ties between agriculture, familial connection, and the nurturing qualities of nature.
The sensory experience, called Summer Blessings, compliments Rooted in Warmth by presenting an immersive installation celebrating the rich diversity of the country’s local fruits and herbs. The installation is a large tablecloth representing Saudi Arabia’s map and placed on it are seasonal fruits, spices, and herbs famous in each region, inviting visitors to smell, touch, and taste the rich agricultural heritage of the country.
The project contributes to Ithra’s broader efforts to celebrate cultural heritage through craft-focused programs. These include Ithra’s Islamic Art Conference and ongoing multi-exhibition program dedicated to Islamic and contemporary artisanship. Through hands-on, discovery-led experiences, Ithra invites audiences of all ages to explore the creativity and knowledge embedded in craft traditions across Saudi Arabia and beyond. By sharing these traditions beyond its walls, including this presentation at Concéntrico Festival, Ithra brings foundational elements of Saudi identity to new audiences and helps to ensure this invaluable legacy is preserved and shared globally.
Commenting on the festival showcase, Noura Alzamil, Head of Programs at Ithra, said: “We are proud to present Raghad Al-Ahmed’s remarkable work at Concéntrico. Commissioning this piece and showcasing it at one of Europe’s leading design festivals reflects Ithra’s continued efforts to champion creative expression. This initiative offers a tangible platform for Saudi artists and artisans to amplify their voices and share their craft with the world, enriching the global cultural landscape. Imbued with the artist’s personal and national identity, wrapped in contemporary artistic expression, Rooted in Warmth is sure to be a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue at the festival.”
The installation will be open to the public from 19–24 June at the Plaza de la Diversidad in Logroño. Following its debut in Spain, Rooted in Warmth will be exhibited in Saudi Arabia as part of Tanween 2025. Tanween is Ithra’s annual flagship design event, dedicated to spotlighting excellence in global design and amplifying voices leading creative innovation. As the installation continues its journey to Tanween 2025, it will return to Ithra enriched by its engagement with international audiences and recontextualized in its homecoming within the rich architectural dialogue of the Kingdom.
