Layali Alkathiri: Modernism/post modernism

Modernism in Saudi Arabia :

The geographical region of the Arab land has frame the cultural background of the country relates to modernism of Arab world. The Arab world includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, and spreads over the Middle East (or the Eastern Mediterranean. Most Arab countries gained their independence from British and French colonial rule between the end of World War II and the mid 1950s.

Modernists focused on innovative forms of expression and rejected realism and creating and shaping the world and Arab world (specifically art/architecture/things that make up culture). Modernism can be a way of thinking that supports the ability of humans to be able to change their environment in ways that make it more practical for their use. Although the political, economic and social environments since the 19th century have caused the decline of traditional arts in the Arab world It also rejects boundaries between high and "low" forms of art. By the middle of the 20th century, modern Arab had developed, based on Western aesthetics and norms; and by the end of the 20th century all Arab countries had extended modern art movements that reflected their cultural and artistic growth.

The Bicycle is a larger-than-life sculpture of a bicycle and is the most famous landmark in Jeddah

Example is The King Fahd Causeway is multiple dikes - bridge combination connecting Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and the island of Kingdom of Bahrain.1982

Example of a modernist building in Saudi Arabia is the Department of defence

Postmodernism: The modern is always historically at war with what comes immediately before it in this same sense, modern is always post-something. Postmodernism deals with the idea that if something is meaningless that it is not important to focus on finding meaning like how some gallerys end up in burnes empty rooms, it’s about having fun with creating it . Edge of Arabia, which opened on October 16th at the Brunei Gallery, school of Oriental and Africa Studies (SOAS) of the University of London, offers a unique opportunity to see the work of 17 contemporary artists from Saudi Arabia.

Installation art is an good example of post modern art.Ayman Yossri Daydban

The Choice photograph by Manal Al Dowayan

The Kingdom Tower in Riyadh is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia

Lionel Mill's film has unique access to Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen, one of the rulers of the rich, powerful and secretive Saudi royal family. This is a fascinating insight into the conflicts between tradition and modernity in one of the world's most conservative and autocratic countries.

References

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fh52m

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk_mvSp1xmA

http://worldslongestbridges.blogspot.com/2009/12/worlds-longest-bridges.html

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/larger-than-life-bicycle-sculpture/

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/skywatch-jeddah-sculpture/

http://www.saudiarabian.tv/?p=1140

http://www.menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/5101-expressionism-saudi-fine-arts-its-time-document

http://www.thegarretboys.com/news/saudinews.htm

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2003/modern_art_from_the_arab_world

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/saudi_arabia_modern_architecture.htm

http://universes-in-universe.org/eng/nafas/articles/2008/edge_of_arabia