Hayy Learning Curatorial Fellowship updates

2020 marked the first edition of the Hayy Learning Curatorial Fellowship, a yearlong programme supporting research and practice-based modes of exhibition-making. Following a rigorous nomination, adjudication and interview process, three fellows with a wide range of interests and expertise were thoughtfully selected: Abdullah Al-Mutairi, Tara Emad Al-Dughaither and Wejdan Reda. 

Through a tailored knowledge exchange programme, the fellowship aimed to support participants in the development of individual research and exhibition proposals. One year after the start of the fellowship, our fellows are seeing their proposals come to life, each in its own unique and unexpected way. 

Abdullah Al-Mutairi joined the fellowship with an expressed interest in visual cultures, particularly looking into the notion of the divergent or marginal image in relation to national modernity, as seen through various informal collecting practices online and in physical art archives of the past.

With the fellowship coming to a close, Abdullah is currently working towards a publication with contributions from Aziz Al- Fraih, Gulf Graphix and Ruba Al-Sweel, Khalid Gharaballi and Hamed Bukhamseen, Yasmeen Khaja and Sophia Al Maria. 

Abdullah is an artist, member of GCC collective and currently the Assistant Gallery Director at Sultan Gallery, Kuwait.

Tara Emad Al-Dughaiter joined the fellowship as the founder of Sawtasura, a growing open source digital library and sonic archive documenting women’s vocal histories, singing practices, and sonic rituals in Saudi Arabia. Drawing inspiration from her own experience as a vocalist, Tara has opened up this platform to invite informal researchers and contemporary practitioners to engage with the archive. 

Through the fellowship, Tara curated Sawtasura’s first exhibition titled Onto, a digital space inspired by Saudis sonic history hosting research-led, and documentary artworks by Reem Al Nasser, Elham Al Dawsari and Abeer Sultan. The exhibition included a five-month online residency, as well as an ongoing collaboration with Abeer Sultan, who developed the online platform Durra where the exhibition is being held. Onto is running from August 12 to January 12, after which works will be archived and made accessible in Sawtasura’s library.

Tara is an artist and curator based in Saudi Arabia. More about Tara’s project can be found at www.sawtasura.org. 

Wejdan Reda joined the fellowship to delve into the contemporary art canon and analyze critical art discourse in Arabic by looking into the interpretation and mediation of sculptural public art projects. As part of the fellowship Wejdan is currently working towards a publication that reflects on mediation practices and accessibility through the lens of public art in Jeddah. 

Wejdan is a curator, art consultant and the founder of Sahaba.club in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Fellowship culminates with a closing programme at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah with fellows coming together in January 2022 to share their research and project outcomes with the larger community and public.