Stone-Ideas.com 
Unser Bericht vom Symposium 2025:
https://www.stone-ideas.com/112266/6-tuwaiq-symposium-riyadh/
Wo die Kunstwerke aufgestellt werden:
https://www.stone-ideas.com/112524/steinskulpturen-tuwaiq-symposium/
Gerne wählt die Jury beim Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium Einreichungen aus, die im Rahmen der klassischen Bildhauerei unüblich sind. Mit klassischer Bildhauerei meinen wir, dass die Form aus einem Steinblock herausgeschält wird. Michelangelo hatte das mit seinem Postulat angesprochen, dass er im rohen Marmor die spätere Figur erkennen könne.
Als Beispiel aus dem letzten Jahr für eine unübliche Art der Fertigung verweisen wir auf die Arbeit des spanischen Künstlers Jordi Ragi, der sein Werk aus Einzelteilen zusammensetzte. Zu den Herausforderungen zählte das passgenaue Bearbeiten der einzelnen Elemente, damit sie sich später überhaupt zusammensetzen ließen und am Ende nicht infolge von Spannungen splitterten (Link siehe unten).
Diesmal wollen wir auf die Arbeit „Grind“ von Juan Caicedo hinweisen. Der kolumbianische Künstler beschäftigt sich normalerweise mit vielfältigen Installationen und hatte zuvor keine Arbeit aus Stein ausgeführt. Vielleicht nutzte er deshalb bei „Grind“ die Möglichkeiten komplett aus: Das Werk in der Form eines aufrecht stehenden Reiskorns ist auf Beweglichkeit ausgelegt, dass also die Betrachter es mit einem kräftigen Anstoß seitwärts neigen könnten.
Zudem: Auf der Vorder- und der Rückseite waren ein Handlauf beziehungsweise eine Eisenleiter angebracht, damit die Betrachter auf das Werk hinaufklettern konnten.
Die Begründung für beides liegt in dem Verständnis, das Caicedo von seiner Kunst hat: Er will, dass die Betrachter mit seinen Arbeiten interagieren, in diesem Fall: den Steinklotz anstoßen oder besteigen.
Das Problem der Sicherheit bei solchen Aktionen löste Caicedo, indem er den Schwerpunkt des Objekts nach untern verlagerte: Dafür wurde das Stein-Korn in zwei Teile zerschnitten, von denen der untere massiv blieb und der obere ausgehöhlt wurde. Das reduzierte das Gesamtobjekt genug, dass der Klotz überhaupt bewegt werden konnte, verteilte aber gleichzeitig die Lasten so, dass, wie bei einem Kegel, ein Umkippen nicht möglich ist.
Eine andere Arbeit mit einem Effekt von Interaktion schuf Hiroyuki Asakawa aus Japan: Er stellte zwei Formen sich gegenüber, die entfernt an Schalltrichter erinnerten, und entsprechend konnten Leute sich trotz des großen Abstands miteinander verständigen. Natürlich verlangte die richtige Platzierung der beiden Teile besondere Sorgfalt.
Im Folgenden zeigen wir die anderen Arbeiten in alphabetischer Reihenfolge. Insgesamt waren 23 internationale Künstler und sieben aus Saudi-Arabien eingeladen. Sie erstellten vom 15. Januar bis 09. Februar 2025 ihre Werke auf einem Gelände am Rande der Hauptstadt Riyadh. Als Material standen ihnen Rohblöcke aus zwei farbigen Graniten und aus einem Basalt aus dem Königreich zur Verfügung.
Fotos: Riyadh Art
Ali AlHamoud (b. 1986) is a Saudi artist known for his distinctive calligraphy style, rooted in his graffiti background. AlHamoud has exhibited at prestigious venues across Saudi Arabia and has trained over 100 artists in knife-carving techniques.
Ali AlMalky (b. 1980) is a Saudi sculptor with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education. Known for his elegant abstract lines, his monumental works have been displayed in various group and solo exhibitions.
Ali AlTokhais (b. 1957) is a Saudi artist who graduated from the Institute of Art Education in Riyadh. He works primarily with stone carving and has participated in numerous sculpture workshops, forums, and symposiums in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
Anna Sosenskaia (b. 1987) is a Russian artist who graduated from the Sculpture Faculty of the I.E. Repin St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts. In addition to numerous professional accolades, she has exhibited widely in Russia, as well as in Turkey, Italy, and Germany.
Anna Teresa Rasinska (b. 1981) is a Polish sculptor who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. Rasinska’s work, showcased in numerous international exhibitions and symposiums, emphasizes form—exploring both its logical structure and its infinite possibilities of transformation.
Arianna Palmieri (b. 1998) is an Italian artist who graduated with honors in Sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, Italy. Her works explore the relationship between the world, the individual, and nature. She has exhibited in various Italian cities and participated in numerous sculpture symposiums in Italy and Germany.
Birgit Cauer (b. 1961) is a German artist currently based in Berlin. Through her work, she explores the many facets of stone as a material – its possibilities and its limitations – and what she perceives as its essential role in the creation of all living things. Cauer’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and public spaces.
Bodour AlAqidi (b. 2002) is a Saudi visual artist, sculptor, and artwork developer with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. She has participated in numerous art exhibitions, and in 2019, she achieved second place in the Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation Olympiad.
Chuan-Hsien Yeh (b. 1981) is a Taiwanese sculptor with a Master of Arts degree from National Dong Hwa University. Yeh has served as the on-site executor of three Hualien International Stone Sculpture Symposiums and has been selected for multiple public art projects in Taiwan. Through his stone sculptures, he records life and expresses his concern for the environment.
Dangyong Liu (b. 1981) is a Chinese artist who attended the Academy of Fine Arts at the Normal University of Hohhot. Liu has exhibited widely and participated in symposiums in France, Finland, Norway, Bolivia, and Russia. He also has professional curatorial and design experience in Beijing and Jiangxi, China.
Ebtesam Saleh (b. 2002) is a Saudi artist with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Saleh has participated in various training programs and projects, including Noor Riyadh, and has exhibited her work in several local art exhibitions.
Furkan Depeli (b. 1995) is a Turkish artist with a Bachelor’s degree from Marmara University. Depeli’s distinctive and thought-provoking works have been exhibited internationally and have won him numerous awards. He is currently working on projects that explore ontology and its sub-concepts.
Genti Tavanxhiu (b. 1973) is an Albanian sculptor born in Shkodra and based in Italy, where he established his personal atelier in 1993. He has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and fairs, and in 2018, he was part of the team that presented the Albania Pavilion at the prestigious Venice International Architecture Biennale.
Jacob Lucius Cartwright (b. 1982) is a third-generation artist from Australia. His sculpting style reflects influences from sound and resonance, emphasizing the importance of deep listening to connect with the inner essence. Cartwright’s artworks have been exhibited across Asia, Europe, and America.
Juan Pablo Marturano (b. 1975) is an Argentinian artist based in Buenos Aires whose practice spans sculpture, drawing, and photography. In 2000, he moved to Carrara, Italy, where he specialized in marble and stone carving techniques. Marturano’s practice combines art with nature.
Khaled Zaki (b. 1964) is an Egyptian artist known for his sculptures and installations. His work draws on numerous influences, including ancient Egyptian statuary, Italian Renaissance sculpture, and the legacy of Egyptian modernism. He has participated in numerous global exhibitions and biennales, including representing the Egyptian Commission at the 55th International Venice Biennale in 2013.
Khalid Farhan (b. 1977) is a Bahraini sculptor whose high-precision works have positioned him at the forefront of his generation. Working with wood, stone, copper, and bronze, Farhan draws inspiration from the fundamental contradiction of positive and negative forces in nature. He has exhibited extensively in Bahrain, the Middle East, and Europe. His most notable work, The Legend, is displayed at the entrance of the Bahrain National Museum.
Majid Haghighi (b. 1983) is an Iranian sculptor with a Bachelor’s degree in Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University. His work is deeply inspired by the geometric forms of traditional architecture, which he views as a balance between simplicity and grandeur. Since 2007, Haghighi has participated in numerous international sculpture symposiums and competitions, earning several prestigious awards.
Masa Paunovic (b. 1981) is a Serbian sculptor who graduated with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arts in Belgrade. Since 2002, she has participated in more than 100 national and international group exhibitions and has held eight solo shows to date.
Mikhail Sobolev (b. 1977) is a Russian artist who lives and works in Moscow, where he creates in his workshop using a wide range of materials, including marble, granite, diabase, sandstone, limestone, and ceramics. He has participated in international exhibitions and symposiums, earning numerous awards, including the Medal of the Moscow Union of Artists for Merits in the Field of Fine Arts.
Noha AlSharif (b. 1980) is a Saudi sculptor with an MSc from the University of Winchester, England. Her work, which is both spiritual and abstract, has been exhibited in London, Shanghai, Vienna, Istanbul, Sharjah, Doha, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. She is also a faculty member at Qassim University.
Obai AlHattoom (b. 1966) is a Syrian sculptor recognized for his expressive approach, emphasizing the simplicity and strength of form. In his recent work, he has explored the relationship between sculpture and its environment, focusing on how light and shadow transform its form.
Petre Borissov Petrov (b. 1967) is a Bulgarian sculptor with a PhD in Art History from the Fine Art Academy in Sofia. His monumental works have been featured in numerous international exhibitions and have received various awards.
Rawan AlShehri (b. 1999) is a Saudi sculptor with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Her deep passion for Saudi culture and the history of its ancient monuments is a key influence in her artwork. The themes of her work, which has been exhibited regionally, explore personal reflection and the evolving beliefs of individuals.
Reto Steiner (b. 1978) is a Swiss artist specializing in stone sculpture. Steiner rethinks traditional stone sculpture through innovative techniques—by both melting and carving stone, he reflects on the processes of stoneworking in contrasting ways. He has received numerous accolades, including the Jury Award of the Skulptur-Biennale in Winterthur and the Aeschlimann Corti Scholarship.
Seungwoo Hwang (b. 1960) is a Korean artist who graduated from the renowned Carrara Accademia di Belle Arti in Italy. He has gained prominence on the international scene for his distinctive pieces, often carefully carved in stone, that are simultaneously vast and intricate in detail. Many of Hwang’s works have been exhibited globally.
Susana Botana (b. 1984) is a Spanish sculptor and teacher based in Valencia. Her work has received several national awards and has been exhibited in Italy, Mexico, and Chile. In 2024, she was selected as an artist-in-residence at Lo Mon Contemporáneo in the Hecho Valley, northeastern Spain.
Vankhade Sangam (b. 1991) is a sculptor from Ahmedabad whose work explores memory, materiality, and heritage. Drawing on his stone-carving lineage, he examines themes of power dynamics and historical legacies. Sangam holds a Master’s degree in Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda and has exhibited widely, including at the India Art Fair.
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