Lot Essay
Born in Tabuk in 1979, a year of significant societal shifts in his region, Ahmed Mater pursued medical studies while honing his artistic skills at Al-Meftaha Arts Village. It was there that Mater developed his intuitive approach to art which drew from his medical background and his education rooted in religious thought. Later, he transitioned to more conceptual art, producing some of the most recognisable artworks of the Saudi art scene and becoming one of the most prominent contemporary artists of the Arab world. Adopting a multitude of media - painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and video - that demonstrate exceptional innovation, Mater has produced an extensive body of work over more than two decades. His oeuvre, which includes celebrated series such as the Desert of Pharan and the Evolution of Man, has associated Mater with his country and the symbolism of its sacred cities, finding resonance with audiences both locally and internationally.
Artificial Light is one of the representative works from the Desert of Pharan series, which documents the rapid urban developments in Mecca. The project maps the tension between public and private space. While Mecca is home to more than a million residents, it is being transformed to cater to the needs of millions more pilgrims and tourists. Existing models of urban development have been implemented on a vast scale. Equipped with imported financial and development know-how, Mecca is attempting a transformation in order to adapt to the geopolitical, technological, environmental, geomorphological and religious context in which it exists.
Christie’s is thrilled to be offering two works from Ahmed Maters’ most representative series following the artist’s first mid-career retrospective Ahmed Mater: Chronicles held at Christie’s London in summer 2024.
Artificial Light is one of the representative works from the Desert of Pharan series, which documents the rapid urban developments in Mecca. The project maps the tension between public and private space. While Mecca is home to more than a million residents, it is being transformed to cater to the needs of millions more pilgrims and tourists. Existing models of urban development have been implemented on a vast scale. Equipped with imported financial and development know-how, Mecca is attempting a transformation in order to adapt to the geopolitical, technological, environmental, geomorphological and religious context in which it exists.
Christie’s is thrilled to be offering two works from Ahmed Maters’ most representative series following the artist’s first mid-career retrospective Ahmed Mater: Chronicles held at Christie’s London in summer 2024.