Inside Maryam Tariq's "Invisible Systems"

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Riyadh.

What are the unseen forces that influence human existence? Saudi artist Maryam Tariq explores such hidden realms in her upcoming exhibition in Al Balad, Jeddah’s historic district next month. We also highlight new limited edition art collectibles made by Saudi ATHR Gallery in partnership with Saudia to commemorate the airline’s 80th anniversary, an annual date festival in the Al-Qassim region and Arabic summer cinema in the Hejaz city of Al Baha.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: ‘Invisible Systems’ 

Maryam Tariq. Invisible Systems. 2026. Glass sculpture. (Courtesy the artist and Hafez Gallery)

An upcoming show presented by Hafez Gallery in Jeddah’s historic district of Al-Balad will showcase the work of Saudi visual and new media artist Maryam Tariq. Using light installations, 3D projection mapping and immersive digital storytelling, Tariq’s work explores sacred geometry, memory, human consciousness and the spirituality that can be derived from the natural world. 

In "Invisible Systems," Tariq explores the unseen forces that shape life, perception, memory and behavior. The artist’s immersive installations offer physical form to phenomena that largely remain unseen to the human eye. This includes microscopic organisms drifting through the oceans as well as the silent architectures of trauma, technology and consciousness. Each work presented asks the viewer what moves, guides and transforms the individual and collective experience.

One work, "Wings for the Directionless," is inspired by phytoplankton, which produce around 50-80% of the world’s oxygen, more than all the world’s forests combined. Without this plankton, the entire marine ecosystem and life on earth would collapse. In this installation, Tariq celebrates plankton, which she calls in the exhibition’s catalogue the “directionless travelers of the oceans.” As Tariq explains, unlike fish or dolphins, plankton cannot swim against the current. “They drift where the waters carry them, much like leaves floating downstream.” 

Tariq chose green algae, considered the living ancestor of all land plants — humble, microscopic beings that give rise to the complexity of terrestrial life. “Studying them offers a glimpse into how life made the leap from water to land,” she explains. “But beyond their scientific significance, green algae hold profound beauty: Hidden within their colonies are patterns of sacred geometry. They are nature’s tiny masterpieces, silent expressions of universal laws.”

Date: mid-September to mid-October 

Location: Hafez Gallery, Al-Balad, Jeddah

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: SIRA

A view of SIRA at the W Riyadh in the KAFD District. (Courtesy of SIRA)

This vibrant new Latin American restaurant opened its doors in Riyadh in May and features immersive, chic interiors, blending sophisticated design with high-energy hospitality. In true Latin American style, the experience is shaped around open-fire cooking techniques and a concept that easily shifts into an energetic lounge concept in the evening. 

Be sure to try the smoky shrimp anticucho, perfectly grilled and packed with authentic Latin American spices; the empanadas, served warm with well-seasoned fillings; the zesty salmon ceviche, the mixed grill platter and the lomo saltado, a beef tenderloin dish stir-fried with red onions, tomatoes and crispy potatoes, finished with a savory touch of sesame oil and soy sauce.

Helmed by Peruvian Chef Jordy Vera Arias, this trendy culinary hotspot featuring bold Spanish and Latin American flavors is rising in popularity.

Location: Area 1, Al Aqeeq Street, KAFD, Riyadh

Find more information here

3. Riyadh diary

A view of ATHR’s limited edition travel collectibles in partnership with Saudi airlines. Courtesy of ATHR

• Athr Launches Limited Art Collection with Saudia

To honor 80 years of aviation since its founding in 1945, Saudia has partnered with leading contemporary art gallery ATHR to bring contemporary Saudi art to the skies. The collaboration introduces four limited-edition travel collectibles that will be released as a retail collection designed to weave the kingdom’s vibrant culture into the traveler’s experience. Each item in the collection serves as a functional canvas, allowing local artists to tell Saudia's story through a contemporary lens.

The inaugural release, the JED Sculpture Stack (featured above), captures the spirit of Jeddah's open-air art landmarks. Developed by the Al-Balad-based collective the Homemade Design Company under Souhail Bou Melhem, the bronze miniature set includes a detailed replica of the airline's very first Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The remaining pieces in the collection will be unveiled at a showcase in Jeddah ahead of Saudi National Day.

Find more information here

• Al-Khubara Dates Festival 

This vibrant annual 45-day date festival merges local agricultural trade with cultural heritage. Operating this year under the theme "Ancestral Heritage and the Pride of the Descendants," the festival serves as a premier marketplace for local farmers to showcase and sell premium date varieties, including the highly prized Sukkari dates. Beyond agriculture, the event features dedicated heritage pavilions, craft workshops and traditional folklore performances to celebrate regional Saudi customs. While aiming to boost the local agricultural economy, the festival also connects younger generations and tourists with the rich history of date cultivation in the Al-Qassim region.

Date: Until Sept. 15, 2026

Location: Al-Khubara Avenue in Al-Khubara

Find more information here

• Cinema Al Balad Summer Season 

Eager to find activities to escape the summer heat? There’s nothing like a good film. Head to Cinema Al Balad in Al Baha for a rotating daily lineup of independent, regional and curated Arabic feature films, shorts and dramas. A highlight of the Al Baha region’s Summer Season, the event transforms the LAVIE Mall into a vibrant open-air and indoor cultural hub, blending nostalgic cinematic formats with modern independent film screening setups. 

Date: Until Sept. 2

Location: Lavie Mall, Jeddah

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: ‘The Dream Hotel’

This highly praised dystopian novel by Pulitzer Prize finalist American-Moroccan author Laila Lalami follows Sara Hussein, a museum archivist and mother who is detained by the Risk Assessment Administration after data extracted from her subconscious identifies her as a potential threat to her husband. Lalami's first foray into science fiction reflects today's rapidly evolving technological landscape while critiquing big data, predictive algorithms and the erosion of personal freedom. 

5. View from Riyadh

A visitor inspects a Saudia Airlines Lilium jet displayed during the Global Logistics Forum in Riyadh Oct. 14, 2024. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

6. By the numbers

• Saudi Arabia is the world's second-largest producer of dates after Egypt, producing approximately 1.92 million metric tons annually from 37.6 million palm trees, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
• The Riyadh region is a major hub of the kingdom's date industry, home to more than 8.17 million palm trees across 21,000 farms, producing around 457,000 metric tons of dates annually.