Pacita Abad
‘IN INTERLUDES AND TRANSITIONS / في الحِلّ والترحال’, DIRIYAH CONTEMPORARY ART BIENNALE, SAUDI ARABIA: FINAL DAYS
30 January – 2 May 2026
Pacita Abad, Red and Violet, 1990 © Pacita Abad Art Estate
Titled ‘In Interludes and Transitions / ‘في الحِلّ والترحال’, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 considers the world as a multitude of processions. The Biennale’s title draws from a colloquial phrase invoking the cycles of encampments and journeys among nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula – evoking connection and continuity within a state of constant flux. The Biennale proposes to rethink the world in motion, through processions that entangle humans with planetary, multi-species, spiritual, and technological currents.
Located in the historic site of Diriyah, the third edition takes as its point of departure the movements, migrations, and transformations that continue to connect the Arab region with the world. Curated by Nora Razian, Sabih Ahmed, Maan Abu Taleb, May Makki, Kabelo Malatsie, Lantian Xie, Sammy Zarka the Biennale is designed by studio Formafantasma, and is conceived as a choreography in which histories, ancestors and dreams and move together through song, stories and dance. The Biennale presents works by artists, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and writers to amplify continuity and resilience in times of uncertainty.
Over 20 new works have been commissioned for the Biennale, and Pacita Abad’s work is exhibited alongside works by artists including Rand Abdul Jabbar; Yussef Abgo-Ola; Afra al Dhaheri; Taysir Batniji; Rohini Devasher; Nour Mobarak; Nancy Mounir; Hussein Nassereddine; Daniel Otero Torres; Thảo Nguyên Phan; Gala Porras Kim; Trương Công Tùng and Ju Ji, among others.