Discover the art of folklore at new Riyadh exhibit

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we’re highlighting a new exhibition in Riyadh exploring the role of folklore and craft in contemporary art; the arrival of Kuwait’s popular Thai restaurant Phet Phet in the Saudi capital; the upcoming Saudi Pavilion at Triennale Milano showcasing the transformation of Al Ahsa, one of the world’s oldest oases; and the return of the popular techno festival, Groove in the Grass.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

1. Leading the week: Fragments of Folklore

A work by Hamra Abbas on view in Fragments of Folklore. (Courtesy of Hamra Abbas)

As textile-based works continue to trend in global art and design, a new exhibition titled Fragments of Folklore has opened in Riyadh’s JAX District, exploring traditional narratives through contemporary art. The show features works by four artists from the Middle East and South Asia — Rashid Al Khalifa, Lulwah Al-Homoud, Hamra Abbas, and Raeda Ashour — and coincides with Saudi Arabia’s Year of Handicrafts 2025, which highlights the role of artisanal heritage in today’s creative practices. The exhibition is organized by Saudi brand THAA (known for its blend of tradition and contemporary slow fashion), Paris-based MIR’A Art, and Belgium’s TRIYAD.

The works on show present a vibrant and poignant blend of past and present during a time of great socio-cultural transformation for Saudi Arabia. While folklore is often perceived as a stationary term, the works on display challenge this idea, presenting folkloric narratives that are shaped by each generation. On view are works in a variety of media that explore traditional patterns and motifs through contemporary creations. For example, Al-Homoud’s references to Islamic geometry and calligraphy blend contemporary abstraction and technology, while Abbas reinterprets traditional Pakistani miniature painting. Each artist adapts tradition to their own unique contemporary style demonstrating how folklore is something fluid and ever-changing.

Location: JAX District, Riyadh

Dates: Until May 12

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Phet Phet

A view of tangy Thai cuisine at Phet Phet in Riyadh. (Courtesy of Phet Phet)

Kuwait’s popular homegrown Thai restaurant Phet Phet has officially landed in Riyadh. If you love zesty, fresh Thai flavors, this place will get you hooked, just as it has for numerous diners in Kuwait. Head to the eatery’s new location, which features a simple, laid-back decor with white tiled walls and matching tables and chairs and delve into delicious tangy Thai favorites. Be sure to try the Pow Pow Shrimp, chili wontons, Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai noodles and Pad Krapao beef for a main dish. 

Location: 3250 Takhassusi Branch Road, 7984, Riyadh 

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Date harvest spread across two Maghras, a farm and interdisciplinary community space in Al Ahsa, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. (Courtesy of Alejandro Stein)

• Saudi Pavilion at Triennale Milano presents “Maghras”

On view at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition next month is an exhibition at the Saudi Pavilion staged by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia dedicated to the region of Al Ahsa, an agricultural oasis in the country’s eastern province. Inhabited since the third millennium BCE and recognized as the world’s largest and oldest oasis, Al Ahsa is also a UNESCO World Heritage site undergoing rapid transformation. The exhibition reflects the Triennale’s theme this year of “Inequalities” looking at the urgent socio-economic and environmental concerns facing the planet.

Dates: May 13 to November 9

Location: Palazzo dell'Arte, Parco Sempione, Milan, Italy

Find more information here.

• “Saudi Land" pavilion at Arabian Travel Market 2025

At this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Saudi Tourism is unveiling the “Saudi Land” pavilion, highlighting its diverse summer offerings — from cool mountain escapes to major global events like the upcoming Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The kingdom’s presence at ATM not only showcases its rich cultural and natural destinations but also opens the door to new partnerships and business opportunities in the growing tourism sector.

Dates: Until May 1

Location: Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai 

Find more information here.

• Groove on the Grass

For lovers of art and electronic music, the popular Groove on the Grass independent music and art festival is returning to the Saudi capital. Don your dancing glitter and get ready to enjoy a blend of local DJ legends like Dish Dash and Vinyl Mode, alongside global DJ sets like Thorben Diekman (Shkoon). Dance the night away on the lush green expanse of Juman Park while listening to your favorite techno beats and relishing zesty falafel and other Arabic treats.

Dates: May 2

Location: Juman Park, King Abdullah Economic City, Riyadh

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: “Saudi Arabia — A Modern History”

Released in April by Yale University Press, this book traces Saudi Arabia’s history from its eighteenth-century origins to the present day. It offers a comprehensive account of one of the world’s wealthiest nations — home to Islam’s two holiest sites and one of the few remaining absolute monarchies — and examines how a country often misunderstood has evolved into its modern form. Author David Commins explores the Saud dynasty’s reliance on sectarianism, the status of women and religious minorities, the role of Bedouins and expatriates, and the kingdom’s transformation from a largely agrarian society into the fast-paced urban metropolises seen today.

5. View from Riyadh: Abdulrahman Saleh

A man in the city of Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia in 2018. (Photography by Abdulrahman Saleh)

Riyadh street photographer Abdulrahman Saleh has become known for his startling portraits of both personal and collective life in the Saudi capital and other regions of the Gulf nation. While over a decade ago most people would regard a street photographer with suspicion and rarely agree to have their photograph taken, today people are much more open as showcased by the poignant portraits that Saleh captures.

See more of his work here.

6. By the numbers

• Saudi Arabia is famous for its dates – today there are around 300 different kinds of dates grown in the kingdom, which are exported globally.
• Al-Ahsa and AlUla, two of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent date-growing regions, are home to around 2.5 million and over 2 million date palms, respectively.