A Gateway to cultural dialogue
Few spaces embody the rhythm of human journeys quite like airports—sites of farewells, reunions, and profound transformation. This symbolism resonates powerfully with the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale, hosted at Jeddah’s Western Hajj Terminal, an architectural marvel designed by SOM. Known for sheltering millions of Muslim pilgrims during Hajj, this open-air structure now becomes a stage for artistic and spiritual exploration, bridging the sacred and the contemporary.
Running from January through May 2025, the Biennale’s second iteration, titled ‘And All That is In Between’, invites global audiences to immerse themselves in thematic pavilions and a vibrant courtyard garden, where newly commissioned artworks mingle with lush, curated landscapes. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the event strikes a delicate balance—quietly meditative yet alive with cross-cultural energy, blending tradition with bold creative inquiry.
The title draws inspiration from a phrase found 20 times in the Noble Qur’an: ‘And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between.’ This theme challenges us to understand the marvels of creation and examines how humanity has engaged with these wonders, while also highlighting how Islam’s most revered objects evoke emotion, thought, and intellect.
The exhibition features a range of never-before-seen artifacts, including over 260 pieces on loan from world-renowned institutions like the V&A, the Louvre, and the Vatican, alongside selections from the extensive Al Thani Collection and the Furusiyya Art Foundation.
AlBidaya: journeys of faith and form
The AlBidaya pavilion at the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 invites visitors on a contemplative voyage into the essence of beginnings, spiritual awakening, and the profound interplay between devotion and creativity. Drawing its name from the Arabic word for “origin,” this section weaves together centuries of Islamic heritage with bold contemporary artistry, creating a space where the earthly and the ethereal converge.
Central to the pavilion are sacred artifacts from Makkah and Madinah, many exhibited beyond their holy origins for the first time. Among these treasures are intricately crafted Ka‘bah keys, their metalwork whispering stories of pilgrimage, and segments of the Kiswah—the ornate black silk drape embroidered with gold Quranic calligraphy that adorns the Ka‘bah, replaced annually during Hajj. Alongside these lie centuries-old inscriptions and architectural fragments from the Haram Mosque, each piece a testament to the evolving artistry of Islamic sacred spaces.
Yet AlBidaya transcends mere preservation. Alongside these relics, modern installations reinterpret tradition through cutting-edge mediums—projections mapping the geometry of prayer, soundscapes blending ancient chants with digital harmonics. This dialogue between past and present invites reflection: how do acts of faith shape art, and how does art, in turn, shape our understanding of the divine?
Here, history is not static. A 14th-century Qur’an stand shares space with a holographic reimagining of its craftsmanship, while augmented reality reveals the hidden patterns within a 500-year-old tile. AlBidaya challenges visitors to see continuity in innovation, finding the sacred not in relics alone, but in the act of creation itself.
Looking ahead: a living tapestry of art and faith
As visitors step beyond AlBidaya, the rest of the Biennale unfolds in a series of interconnected journeys—each pavilion offering its own dialogue between heritage and innovation. Echoing the overarching theme, And All That Is In Between, these immersive spaces invite reflection on the ever-evolving relationship between the tangible and the transcendent. In wandering through this expansive artistic landscape—where centuries-old manuscripts share the stage with cutting-edge installations—one begins to sense that faith and creativity are never static. Instead, they breathe and adapt, inviting us to continually rediscover our place within the greater design.
The 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale thus becomes more than a showcase of artifacts and commissioned works. It stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of cultural expression, a meeting ground where the whispers of history converse with the pulse of contemporary thought. The conversation it sparks will continue to resonate—an enduring reminder that within the space between the known and the unknown, art remains our most profound means of exploration.
Pics to illustrate in the text.
View of the AlMidhallah exhibition component, the outdoor exhibition spaces, at the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025
(Image credit: Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation)
Kiswah. Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation
Installation view of the AlBidayah component of the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale. Arcangelo Sassolino, Memory of Becoming (2024)
(Image credit: Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation)
