Driving through the streets of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, this little Aussie lass knew she was meant to be here. Framed by her car window, towering artworks line public spaces and every round-about in the city. Cars on magic carpets, glowing planets, and grazing surreal camels, larger than life.
Art is at the very core of Saudi Culture and after 11 years of calling the Kingdom home, this artist has created the first known Augmented Reality collection for an Art Exhibition to celebrate the 93rd Saudi National Day.
Genevieve Staats created the The Hijabi Pop Art Collection, a vibrant and eye-catching celebration of the traditional clothing of Saudi Arabia. The collection features bold and colorful depictions of hijabs and abayas, rendered in the iconic Pop Art style with a twist incorporating traditional Islamic Geometry serving as the foundation on which these artworks were created. Each piece contains hidden Augmented Reality (AR) which makes the artwork come to life through the ARTIVIVE APP. Creating a new immersive dimension for visitors to this exhibition at the Nofa Resort in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Artivive confirmed, they do not have any registered Art Exhibitions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and further research shows no documentation of any other exhibitions. This Saudi National Day Art Exhibition at the Nofa Resort in Riyadh, will be the first of its kind in the Kingdom.
The artist captures the beauty and grace of traditional Saudi garments, whilst also highlighting their evolution over time. From the traditional black abaya with leather Batoola mask to the more colorful designs of today, the collection showcases the many ways that Saudi women express themselves through their clothing.
This collection also pays homage to Rayyanah Barnawi who made history this year in May, by traveling aboard the Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station with Axiom Space in conjunction with Space X, NASA and the Saudi Space commission, as the first female Saudi Astronaut in space in May 2023. Her portrait in this collection currently contains a positive Saudi National Day message.
The Hijabi Pop Art Collection is a powerful statement about the importance of cultural identity and the beauty of diversity. It is a reminder that fashion is not just about trends, but also about expressing oneself, one’s heritage and one’s culture.
Saudi Arabia is actively growing its creative economy and fostering innovation in art and technology through the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, with the center’s third Creative Solutions initiative this month, which encourages the development of technology to further the immersive experience of art.
More info: Instagram