RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and South Korea came together on Sunday evening in the Red Hall of the Princess Noura University Theater for a series of performances blending the two cultures.
The exhibition, which will end on November 28, was launched by the Royal Saudi Institute of Traditional Arts in partnership with the Korea National University of Arts.
Suzan Al-Yahya, CEO of the institute, said the exhibition aims to promote “global cultural exchanges in the Kingdom and create a meeting point between traditional arts from different countries.”
The show, titled “Eltiqa,” features 50 artists from the Saudi institute and the South Korean university performing dances that celebrate the diversity of the two cultures and reflect a fusion of artistic sensibilities.
FASTFACTS
• “Eltiqa” was launched by the Royal Saudi Institute of Traditional Arts in partnership with the Korea National University of Arts.
• It included an indoor exhibition exploring wooden crafts, textile arts, traditional art and clay works from both countries.
The show opened with a Korean and Saudi artist meeting halfway across the stage and exchanging a letter, symbolizing the story of how the two nations met.
This was followed by a cross-cultural arts experience including 10 performances, five from each country.
The Korean performances featured traditional royal court music and dances, including the Three Drums Dance, known in Korean as Samgomu.
It was an incredible performance, exceeding my expectations, and I felt close to the Korean audience present and seeing the two cultures merge.
Abdulaziz Taherartist based in Riyadh
The final Korean performance included traditional dance influenced by modern musical movements and rhythms.
The five Saudi performances featured dances from different regions of the Kingdom, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity: Al-Samari, Al-Daha, Al-Liwa, Al-Khatwa and Al-Khabiti.
Abdulaziz Taher, a Riyadh-based artist, said it was “difficult to choose a favorite performance”.
He added: “It was an incredible performance, exceeding my expectations, and I felt close to the Korean audience present and seeing the two cultures merge.”
Between the dances, a short theatrical performance showed Saudi Arabia and South Korea coming together to overcome obstacles and celebrate their differences. He received a standing ovation from the audience.
Raghed Al-Qahtani, a Saudi pharmacy student at Princess Nourah University, said: “The ending was the best part for me. It was wonderful to see Saudis and Koreans taking turns dancing to traditional Saudi and Korean music. »
The exhibition accompanies the indoor exhibition “Eltiqa”, which explores the four elemental forces of earth, wind, fire and water, respectively symbolizing wooden crafts, textile arts, traditional art and clay works.
An outdoor dining area also offers visitors from both countries the opportunity to sample each other’s traditional cuisines.
King SeJong Institute, a Korean educational institute in Riyadh, joined the show with freshly cooked kimchi pancakes and kimbap, giving visitors an authentic taste of some of Korea’s best street food.
“Eltiqa” is part of the royal institute’s initiatives to promote cultural exchanges in the Kingdom and preserve heritage in line with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
