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The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiral rotunda, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, has long been a venue for significant art installations, performances, and social demonstrations. In a historic moment, Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan was invited by the museum’s Middle Eastern Circle team to present her work at this iconic venue, making her the first artist from the Gulf to do so.AlDowayan’s one-night-only participatory presentation titled “From Shattered Ruins, New Life Shall Bloom” took place on May 22 and was attended by 750 people. The installation featured cylindrical fabric totems, each adorned with delicate porcelain paper scrolls resembling the outer shell of a hollow egg. Attendees were encouraged to crush the scrolls as per the artist’s instructions.Participation and engagement with her community have been central to AlDowayan’s artistic career, which began over two decades ago in Saudi Arabia. Her work often involves collaborating with women and craftspeople in her community, including in photography.”I find participation is a very beautiful exchange between the artist and the community,” AlDowayan explains. “The distance between me and the community is so huge that only through this participation can we get close to each other.”The Guggenheim installation was inspired by AlDowayan’s earlier work from 2019, titled “Watch Before You Fall,” where she showcased totems displaying Arabic writing, reflecting her experience growing up in a society where women were often marginalized and invisible. This earlier work served as a means of healing and questioning the treatment of women in the public sphere.In her New York show, AlDowayan’s scrolls illustrated narratives that upheld oppressive structures for women and girls, drawing inspiration from various sources, including feminist movements from the United States. She wanted to emphasize the importance of collaborating and learning from other feminist movements worldwide.The audience actively participated in the installation, tearing down the scrolls with their own hands, symbolizing the power to effect change. AlDowayan collected the remnants of the scrolls, referring to them as ‘confetti,’ with plans to potentially incorporate them into future projects.Before the show, AlDowayan was apprehensive about the turnout, fearing that her ideas might not resonate with New York audiences. However, her concerns were proven unfounded as the event received a positive response, particularly from Arab women who attended in groups.Reflecting on the experience, AlDowayan expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to showcase her work at such a prestigious venue and for the warm reception it received. Her groundbreaking presentation at the Guggenheim Museum marked a significant milestone for Gulf artists and highlighted the importance of art as a means of exploring societal issues and connecting communities.In the future, AlDowayan will continue to challenge stereotypes and use her art to create dialogue and change. Her contributions to the art world have not only been impactful in her native Saudi Arabia but have also resonated globally, making her an influential and trailblazing figure in contemporary art.
