‘At the Edge of Land‘ is a group exhibition that delves into the intricate and often concealed relationships between landscapes and trade. It encompasses unexpectedly interconnected geographies, resources and commodities, going back and forth between land and sea to tell stories of erosion and extraction. It challenges ideas of emptiness and development, shedding light on the regions and people on the margins of trade routes.

Curated by Art Jameel curator Lucas Morin, ‘At the Edge of Land’ brings together works from the Art Jameel Collection, in addition to loans and new commissions by international artists, many of whom are showing their work in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The selection of artists and artworks traces the trade route on which Jeddah is located – the busy maritime path connecting East Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. 

The exhibited artists share stories of crossing lands, canals and rivers; documenting disappearing landscapes and giving a voice to their communities, challenging the inevitability of loss. They depict houses clinging to eroded coastlines, sand extracted to create distant artificial islands, and seamen stranded in the desert. They look at ports and containers and listen to the sound of immense ships waiting to be dismantled. They reveal the ways in which economies are interconnected and draw parallels between the movement of goods and the movement of people. 

With works by Jananne Al-Ani, Tarek Al Ghoussein, Iosu Aramburu, Au Sow Yee, Chihoi, Bady Dalloul, Aref El Rayess, Daniele Genadry, Ho Rui An, Hiwa K, Ranjit Kandalgaonkar, Lala Rukh, Hira Nabi, Sarker Protick, Sim Chi Yin, Joar Songcuya, You Khin and Zarina.