A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World

The exhibition, presented by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia is curated by an international team led by Sara Almutlaq and Aurora Fonda, with associate curators Zaira Carrer and Amina Diab.

"A Necessary Fiction" is a journey through ever-changing territories, where historical maps—dating from the thirteenth century to the present day—serve as a lens through which to examine our enduring need to create models of the world. These models offer fantastical mythological visions and imaginative interpretations of scientific inquiry across the centuries and into the present day. Working closely with exhibition designers Ibrahim Kombarji and Bianca Pedron, the curators present a dynamic perspective on cartography across time and a broad geographical expanse.

Modern-era maps from the collections of major international institutions are brought into dialogue with contemporary artworks. European maps depict the Arabian Peninsula as Arabia Deserta, while historical artefacts from the first century CE, such as incense burners, alongside eighteenth-century decorative manuscripts from the Arabian Peninsula, demonstrate the legacy of trade and the multifaceted cultural exchanges that have long shaped the region.

Participating institutions include: King Abdulaziz Public Library, Riyadh; King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, Riyadh; Biblioteca Civica Bertoliana, Vicenza; Cremona State Library; Saudi National Museum, Riyadh; Leiden University Libraries; Qatar National Library, Doha; among others.

Participating artists: Sarah Abu Abdallah, Monira Al Qadiri, Abdulmohsen Albinali, Manal AlDowayan, Marwah AlMugait, Nasser Al Salem, Aseel AlYaqoub, Giorgio Andreotta Calò, Agnes Denes, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Öyvind Fahlström, Simone Fattal, Basmah Felemban, Enej Gala, Shilpa Gupta, Reena Saini Kallat, Ibrahim Mahama, Ahmed Mater, Eva & Franco Mattes, Abdullah Miniawy, Filwa Nazer, Yoko Ono, Trevor Paglen, Matilde Sambo, Wael Shawky, Tavares Strachan, Giuditta Vendrame, Tod Wodicka, and Qiu Zhijie.