Russian Culture in Riyadh

With the support of RDIF, the State Russian Museum is presenting 19 paintings by the world-famous founder of abstract art. These works will be presented for the first time in the Middle East and will include Kandinsky’s early creative period, when the artist was under the powerful influence of folk art from the Russian north. The exhibition also includes several works from his “revolutionary” period, in particular, Black Spot (1917) and Picture with Points (1919).

In 2018 RDIF and the Russian Museum presented five works by Kandinsky and the renowned Russian abstractionist Pavel Filonov on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative forum. The interest shown in Russian abstract art by the forum’s participants resulted in a request for the arranging of a more extensive exhibition in Saudi Arabia by the Russian Museum.

An international exhibition of contemporary art, created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The exhibition, organized with the support of RDIF, was first held in the State Hermitage Museum’s General Staff Building in St. Petersburg in June 2019.

Leading artists from 10 countries embracing this approach are taking part in the exhibition, including the Russian academic Konstantin Novoselov, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Physics, who will be presenting his work Time.

Pride of place at the exhibition will go to a joint work by the Russian artists Alexandra Sukhareva and the Saudi artist Nasser Al Shemimri, which will be a response to the central aim of the exhibition: the creation of a dialogue and mutual trust between the two cultures.

Russian opera stars Aida Garifullina and Ildar Abdrazakov will perform celebrated works of classical music from Russia and abroad, including the “Song of the Varangian Guest” from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Sadko and the song “Fly Away on the Wings of the Wind” from Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. The first concert by a Russian symphony orchestra in Saudi Arabia took place in 2018, when the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra and superstar conductor Valery Gergiev performed at the opening of the concert hall in the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, which was created as part of a cultural initiative by the Saudi Aramco company.

With the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, Karo Film, Russia’s leading cinema chain and one of RDIF’s portfolio companies, presents nine of the best Russian and Soviet films and animations: The Cranes Are Flying, Coach, Salyut 7, Stalingrad, Mirror, Hoffmaniada, Hedgehog in the Fog, The Old Man and the Sea, and Come and See. The week will be the first ever screening of Russian film in Saudi Arabia, where public screenings recommenced in 2018. A total of 300 cinemas are to open in the country as part of the kingdom’s “Saudi Vision 2030” programme of reforms.

The exhibition will present joint projects organized by both funds in various economic sectors.