AFALULA – French Agency for AlUla Development
Born as a result of an intergovernmental agreement signed by France and Saudi Arabia in April 2018, the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) was founded in Paris in July 2018. In the spirit of collaborative development, AFALULA’s objective is to support its Saudi partner, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in the sustainable economic, tourism, and cultural development of AlUla, a region with an exceptional natural and cultural heritage located in the north-west of Saudi Arabia.
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Orbis Tertius Exhibition
The Orbis Tertius exhibition takes place from October 15 to 20, 2024 during Art Basel Paris and brings together 20 contemporary artists have participatedin the artistic residency programmes in the oasis city of AlUla, Saudi Arabia.
Curated by Arnaud Morand, Head of Arts at AFALULA, it borrows its title from the writings of Jorge Luis Borges and unfolds on the foundations of the total idealist philosophy dear to the author. It revolves around themes such as how the world can be embedded into storytelling, and the inconsistent boundaries between fiction and reality.
Continuing their research in this region with its thousand-year history, marked by the archaeological remains of several pre-Islamic civilisations, as well as by innovative urban planning resolutely turned towards the future, the artists of this exhibition undertake to unfold reality throughout their works. They explore various fields of possibility, where ancestral stories and those of the future respond to each other, where alternative versions of the past adjoin possible futures, where myths and legends hybridise with scientific knowledge.
The ”AlUla artists in residency” programme
The artistic residency is an essential part of AlUla’s ambitious vision for the 21st century, positioning contemporary creation as a cornerstone of the project. It uniquely combines artistic intelligence with scientific expertise to shape the development of this remarkable destination, built by and for artists. This programme helps to imagine and cultivate the possible futures of AlUla.
This programme provides a platform for regional and international artists to explore and experiment in AlUla’s breathtaking landscape, enriched by 200,000 years of human history. It fosters dynamic dialogues between artists, creatives and experts, and with the local communities of AlUla.
The ”AlUla artists in residency” programme was established in 2021 by Arts AlUla and the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA).
l’art en plus is working with the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) and Arts AlUla to orchestrate the global communication campaign and promotion of the first exhibition in France of ”AlUla artists in residency” programme during Art Basel Paris.