Pictures from AlUla, in Saudi Arabia, where Desert X has just inaugurated

Land art in the desert, forms in dialogue with rocks and light, oases, mirages and visions in the open-air exhibition that originated in the Coachella Valley, in California.

Abdullah AlOthman, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Alicja Kwade, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Ayman Zedani, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Claudia Comte, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Dana Awartani, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Jim Denevan, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Khalil Rabah, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Serge Attukwei Clottey, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Serge Attukwei Clottey, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shadia Alem, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shaikha Al Mazrou, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shezad Dawood, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Stephanie Deumer, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Sultan bin Fahad, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Zeinab Alhashemi, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Running from 11 February to 30 March 2022, the recurring site-specific Saudi Arabia art exhibition “Desert X AlUla” places visionary works by local and international artists in the desert landscape of Al-‘Ula – city of the Medina Region in the north-west of the country.

Historically located on the incense route, Al-‘Ula is a living landscape museum for heritage, nature and arts, hosting the most significant remains of early civilisations of the Arabian Peninsula – including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hegra.

The exhibition this year explores the complex significance of the ideas of mirage and oasis, intrinsic to desert history and culture, but widespread worldwide in the collective imaginary. The fifteen exhibited artists are: Shadia Alem, Dana Awartani, Serge Attukwei Clottey, Claudia Comte, Shezad Dawood, Jim Denevan, Stephanie Deumer, Sultan Bin Fahad, Zeinab AlHashemi, Alicja Kwade, Shaikha AlMazrou, Abdullah AlOthman, Khalil Rabah, Monika Sosnowska and Ayman Zedani.

Abdullah AlOthman, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Alicja Kwade, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Ayman Zedani, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Claudia Comte, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Dana Awartani, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Jim Denevan, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Khalil Rabah, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Serge Attukwei Clottey, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Serge Attukwei Clottey, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shadia Alem, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shaikha Al Mazrou, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Shezad Dawood, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Stephanie Deumer, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Sultan bin Fahad, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.

Zeinab Alhashemi, Desert X AlUla 2022. Photo by Lance Gerber.

Photo by Lance Gerber.