The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax (SAMoCA@Jax) inaugurated The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow exhibition, introducing contemporary artists of Chinese origin to Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Bringing together over 30 artists of different generations and cultural backgrounds, the exhibition showcases a collection of over 50 artworks, offering diverse and nuanced perspectives on the profound transformation of our contemporary society.

Curated by Martina Koppel Yang, The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow  exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions through exploring two central elements they have in common: calligraphy and the Garden. The exhibition highlights the profound significance of calligraphy as a cultural and societal practice in both Arabic and Chinese cultures. In both cultures, the written word and script are revered not only as a form of communication but also as a spiritual endeavor.

The balance between discipline and naturalness, a requirement for masterful calligraphy, links the field of writing with the domain of the garden. By definition, the garden is nature in an arranged order, and it is considered in both cultures a representation of creation, designed for the appreciation of beauty and spirituality, and for contemplation and conviviality.

The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow also reflects an aspiration towards future possibilities and ongoing dialogue, addressing the concepts of energy flow and synergy. Writing here is understood in a larger sense, as the trace of a meaningful act of participation and communication.  

With a scenography produced by Studio GGSV, the exhibition is designed as a stroll through a series of thematic stages, exploring the interplay between presence and absence, action and contemplation, memory and imagination: The Active Word; Presence and Absence; Sites of Memory; Advance Through Retreat / Synergies; Dreamscapes; and Judd.

Visitors of the exhibition will have the opportunity to explore pieces from two notable collections of contemporary Chinese art, the Donnersberg Collection (Paris) and the DSLcollection (Paris), as well as direct contributions from artists and site-specific works produced in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition.  They will also see the works of French-Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed and Taiwanese artist Michael Lin, showing for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow showcases how the art of today continues to evolve, reflecting and reshaping the flow of cultural energy, connecting past and future, and embodying the promise of tomorrow.

Participating artists: Adel Abdessemed (*1971/ lives in Paris), Chen Jianghong (*1963/ lives in Paris), Chen Shaoxiong (1962–2016), Chen Tong (*1962/ lives in Guangzhou), Chen Zhen (1955–2000), Hai Bo (*1962/ lives in Beijing), Han Lei (*1967/ lives in Beijing), Huang Yongping (1954–2019), Hong Hao (*1965/lives in Beijing), Jiang Zhi (*1971/ lives in Beijing), Li Donglu (*1982/ lives in Paris), Michael Lin (*1964/ lives in Brussels), Lin Tianmiao (*1971/ lives in Beijing and NY), Liu Bolin (*1973/ lives in Binzhou), Liu Wei (*1972/ lives in Beijing), Qiu Anxiong (*1972/ lives in Shanghai, Qiu Zhijie (*1969/lives in Beijing), Ru Xiaofan (*1954/ lives in Paris), Shen Yuan (*1959/ lives in Paris), Song Dong (*1966/ lives in Beijing), Tian Dexi (*1983/ lives in France), Wang Bing (*1967/ lives in Paris), Wang Du (*1956/ lives in Paris), Yan Pei-ming (*1960/ lives in Paris), Felicitas Yang (*1994/ lives in Paris), Yangjiang Group (Chen Zaiyan (*1971)/Song Qinglin (*1974)), Yang Jiechang (*1956/ lives in Paris and Heidelberg), Yang Yongliang (*1980/ lives in Shanghai and NY), Zhang Huan (*1965/ lives in Shanghai) and Zheng Guogu (*1970/ lives in Yangjiang).

About the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax (SAMoCA@Jax)
The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA@Jax) was established in 2023 by the Museums Commission, part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, contributing to the nation’s cultural renaissance under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. SAMoCA@Jax serves as a vibrant platform for local and international artists to exchange, connect, and grow, shaping the future of contemporary art in the Kingdom and beyond.

About the Saudi Museums Commission
The Museums Commission, part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, plays a leading role in developing and regulating the Museums sector in Saudi Arabia, introducing the Kingdom’s identity, history, heritage, and culture to a broad audience. The Commission establishes and operates museums in line with international best practices, safeguards and exhibits collections with the highest standards, and encourages investment to support the development of the sector. Through its pioneering initiatives and programmes, the Commission aims to increase museum visitorship amongst locals, residents and tourists, enhancing the Museums sector’s recognition in the Kingdom and abroad.

For media inquiries: Jana Jabbour, Communications Director, jjabbour [​at​] moc.gov.sa