ATHR Gallery is proud to announce the soft opening of ALAMAAT on December 26th 2024, an exhibition featuring the works of artists Daniah Al Saleh and Susanne Kriemann, created during their residency in AlUla, supported by the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy. This exhibition is expertly curated by Salma Al Khalidi and celebrates the intersection of art, archaeology, and cultural exchange and will be presented for the first time in AlUla.
ATHR extends its deepest gratitude to the Goethe Institute, the German Embassy, and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) for their essential support. DAI’s expertise guided the artists’ research, contributing to the depth and resonance of the works on display.
In 2023, as part of the 20th anniversary of DAI’s excavations in Saudi Arabia, Al Saleh and Kriemann travelled to the archaeological sites of Tayma and AlUla, exploring the intersection of ancient histories and contemporary realities.
ALAMAAT invites viewers to reflect on how historical and contemporary narratives intersect, shaping our present-day realities. It reminds us that time is marked not only by significant events, but also by the subtle traces we leave behind. These remnants—both tangible and intangible—deepen our understanding of the world and our place within it, revealing how the past continues to resonate in the present.
Daniah Alsaleh and Susanne Kriemann weave a narrative exploring the lasting impact of both physical and organic materials, ancient and modern, on our evolving relationship with time and the environment.
Alsaleh’s work focuses on carnelian stones and beads —semi-precious gemstones often found in ancient artifacts, examining how these objects bridge the gap between past human activities and present-day contexts. Kriemann examines the paradoxical coexistence of ancient artifacts and modern consumer waste, highlighting the contrast between the visible and hidden elements of today’s environmental challenges.
ALAMAAT invites reflection on how traces of the past shape our present and the lasting impact of our fleeting actions - encouraging viewers to consider the remnants of history and the marks we leave for future generations. The exhibition serves as a reminder that the desert, like our histories, is a living space where the past, present, and future continuously intersect.
