THE SAUDI MINISTRY OF CULTURE PRESENTS
In A New Light: Contemporary Photography from Saudi Arabia
An exhibition on view from September 12 to October 10, 2025, at Abbazia building in Dorsoduro 172 in Venice
Riyadh Rana Azeem– Venice, August 29, 2025 – As part of “The Saudi Ministry of Culture in Abbazia”, a cultural events program currently being held at the Abbazia building in Dorsoduro 172 in Venice, the Saudi Ministry of Culture hosts the Kingdom Photography Award; an annual initiative launched in 2022 by the Visual Arts Commission (one of 11 sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture) to engage professional artists and support emerging talents in the medium of photography.
“In a New Light: Contemporary Photography from Saudi Arabia” moves beyond familiar representations of the Kingdom, revealing places that are complex and continuously evolving. Curated by Mohamed Somji, the exhibition explores what unfolds amid the country’s diverse geographies and landscapes, featuring 50 photographic works drawn from previous editions of the Kingdom Photography Award.
The Kingdom Photography Award inspires creative exploration through the medium of photography. Working along two parallel tracks, a commission program for local and international practitioners which produces new works that engage deeply with the Kingdom’s diverse stories and landscapes,
and an open call track that serves as a platform for a growing community of photographers to expand their understanding of what the medium can achieve.
Over the years, the Kingdom Photography Award has received more than 2,000 submissions supporting upwards of 50 artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world – including Argentina, Egypt, the Philippines, Morocco, the United Kingdom, the United States, Yemen, and beyond.
“Exhibiting works from the Kingdom Photography Award at the Abbazia building is a wonderful opportunity to showcase photography from Saudi Arabia to international audiences”, says Dina Amin, CEO of the Saudi Visual Arts Commission. “The exhibition not only seeks to highlight the Kingdom’s profound depth — reflected in its people, culture, heritage, and diverse landscapes — but also aspires to present, on the global stage of Venice, the distinctive vision of these selected photographers, in a city celebrated for its enduring and profound dialogue with the arts”.
The program “The Saudi Ministry of Culture in Abbazia” underscores the artistic and cultural excellence of the Kingdom through collaborations with major Venetian and Italian institutions, showcasing the commitment to strengthening the international presence of Saudi culture and disseminating its various aspects and aesthetic and creative vitality, which reflect the ongoing phase of renaissance.
In A New Light: Contemporary Photography From Saudi Arabia
Abbey of San Gregorio, Dorsoduro 172, Venice, from September 12 to October 10, 2025
Hours: Daily 11:00am – 7:00pm
Free Admission
