A host of large-scale installations have been built amidst the canyons of the Al Ula desert in Saudi Arabia that reflect the landscape and its heritage for the returning Desert X exhibition.
Previously located in the Californian desert, in the area known for hosting the annual Coachella music festival, Desert X Al Ula is the first site-responsive exhibition of its kind in Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim's Falling Stones Garden features 320 brightly coloured sculptures informed by the natural rockfall of the surrounding cliffs
Participating artists include Copenhagen studio Superflex, American artist Lita Albuquerque and Saudi Arabian artist Nasser Al Salem.
Each of the works, which range from artificial puddles that double as trampolines to a three-seater swing, are intended to encourage dialogue about the desert and reflect on the area's history. eL Seed's Mirage sculpture takes inspiration from Al Ula's ancient trade routes
The installation by French-Tunisian artist eL Seed, for instance, was informed by the ancient trade routes that formerly ran through the Al Ula desert. The work itself sits on site of what once was an oasis.
Titled Mirage, the sculpture resembles a pile of muddled letters taken from the Arabic script, which viewers can enter and walk underneath.
Instead of using striking colours as featured in the artist's other works, eL Seed opted for muted beige tones that blended in with the surrounding environment to make the sculpture almost "disappear&...