Ithra's COVID-19 Exhibit connects the world through shared experiences

• From the first Kingdom-wide COVID-19 lockdown, the virtual curation highlights how we grew closer together even as we were forced to stay apart.

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA – The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is marking the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown with the launch of a virtual showcase titled COVID-19 Exhibit. A display of mementos tied to an unexpected cultural and social reset that resonated across borders, cultures and languages, the exhibition is a collection of thoughts, memories and reflections on the pandemic experience by people from across the globe.

“A year into the global health crisis, the COVID-19 Exhibit is an opportunity for the global community to reflect on this complicated and difficult time and tell our pandemic stories,” said Ithra curator and head of Ithra museum, Farah Abushullaih. “Art is about connecting people through culture, but we connect maybe even more easily through common objects.”

The exhibition is the result of an open call to art enthusiasts around the world. It received hundreds of submissions, from which a collection of 270 pieces has been curated. The COVID-19 Exhibit highlights our shared feelings and experiences during lockdown – an ordeal that transcends language, cultures and borders. The collection finds common ground in the diverse sentimental and significant objects that helped people worldwide cope in a time of change. Recurring themes emphasize our unity through the similarity of our experiences, and range from lockdowns, social distancing, masks and working from home to supporting medical heroes and front-line workers. The objects include everyday items as well as instruments, photos, notes and artworks – both old and new.

Ithra received exhibits from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with additional submissions from Australia, Malaysia, Germany, USA, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, UK, India, Sudan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan.

Through telling personal COVID-19 stories, the COVID-19 Exhibit provides a universal snapshot of how humanity has dealt with and continues to grapple with what has become our new reality, amidst a unique moment of global solidarity. The exhibition puts the effects of the coronavirus on ourselves and our relationships with objects into perspective, while also connecting cultures and creating dialogue through international participation.

The COVID-19 Exhibit will run for two years. To view it and for more information on Ithra and its programs, visit www.ithra.com. 

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About the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra):

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is a creative and interactive public space for workshops, performances, events, exhibitions and experiences. It offers an enriching journey for everyone by championing diversity, celebrating creativity and encouraging collaboration with the objective of energizing Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy.

Ithra is Saudi Aramco’s most ambitious corporate social responsibility initiative and the largest cultural contribution to the Kingdom. Through a compelling series of programs and initiatives, Ithra creates world-class experiences that bring together culture, innovation and knowledge and are designed to appeal to everyone.

Ithra’s components include the Idea Lab, library, theater, museum, cinema, Great Hall, Energy Exhibit, Children’s Museum and Knowledge Tower.

For more information, please visit: www.ithra.com. Follow Ithra on social media: Facebook (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture), Twitter (@Ithra) and Instagram (@Ithra) #Ithra

© Press Release 2021