Saudi Arabia has made a significant debut at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition with its pavilion titled Maghras: A Farm for Experimentation. This exhibition, running from May 13 to November 9, 2025, marks the Kingdom’s first participation in the prestigious event and offers a profound exploration of Al-Ahsa Oasis—a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s largest natural oases.
A tribute to Al-Ahsa’s evolving landscape
Curated by Lulu Almana and Sara Al Omran, with creative direction by Alejandro Stein, the Maghras exhibition delves into the intricate connections between environment, culture, and memory in Al-Ahsa. The term “Maghras” refers to a traditional unit of land measurement, defined by the spacing of four palm trees, symbolizing the deep-rooted agricultural heritage of the region.
The pavilion showcases a blend of artwork, research findings, and programs developed during a year-long initiative involving cultural practitioners, architects, researchers, and community members. This collaborative effort aimed to analyze and respond to the transformation of Al-Ahsa’s landscape and its impact on the region’s ecological and cultural narratives.
Artistic interpretations and community engagement
Three newly commissioned works anchor the exhibition:
- Leen Ajlan, an architectural designer from Jeddah, presents a piece composed entirely of farming byproduct waste, interrogating the expansion of agrarian monoculture and the impact of artificial fertilizers.
- Mohammed Alfaraj, a visual artist from Al-Ahsa, offers a multimedia film installation reimagining a local folk tale, exploring how memory holds under technological and environmental stress.
- Sawtasura, a socially engaged research platform, contributes a sonic essay drawing from recordings and conversations centered around women’s oral histories and sonic memory as forms of environmental knowledge.
These works, alongside participatory programs and workshops, invite visitors to engage with the evolving agricultural ecosystems of Al-Ahsa, fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s challenges and resilience.
Reflecting on heritage and envisioning the future
Al-Ahsa’s character is defined by a distinctive hybrid of urban and rural identities, defying conventional categorizations. Once envisioned as the country’s “breadbasket” during the 1960s, the oasis has undergone transformations mirroring global shifts in rural agroecosystems. The Maghras exhibition expands the discourse on urban sprawl, depletion of groundwater, and desertification, revealing the interplay between inherited practices and modernization.
Curators Almana and Al Omran emphasise that Maghras is a veneration of the people, cultural rituals, and lived experiences that make up Al-Ahsa. By approaching the history and transformation of this landscape through the lenses of art, research, and local memory, they aim to place a new emphasis on the need for collective reflection and care in envisioning the future of its local communities.
The exhibition not only highlights the rich cultural heritage of Al-Ahsa but also serves as a platform for dialogue on sustainable development and ecological preservation. It reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to cultural engagement and environmental awareness, aligning with the broader objectives of the Ministry of Culture and Vision 2030.
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Read also: A Multisensory Narrative @ the 2024 Venice Biennale
