Ahmed Mater

One of Saudi Arabia’s most esteemed contemporary artists, Dr Ahmed Mater explores the complex interplay between tradition and modernity in the Middle East. Mater was born in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, in 1979. Growing up in the mountainous region of Abha, near the Yemen border, he witnessed his homeland undergo a profound political, cultural and economic transformation from afar. Despite being trained as a doctor, Mater embarked on his artistic journey in the 1990s, delving into themes of power, progress, religion, and globalisation.

Mater’s practice spans film, sculpture, photography and performance, evoking pertinent questions about the interplay of faith, science and community in a rapidly changing world. Islam has been a prominent source of inspiration throughout Mater’s artistic oeuvre. His project 100 Found Objects examine the transformation of Mecca through first-person narratives, mementoes, images and other objects. It is a rich archive of conversations and material memories. The Desert of Pharanseries consists of hundreds of films and photographs that documented the evolving visage of the city—offering glimpses into everyday life, captivating portrayals of expansion and development and mesmerising visuals of the sacred Kaaba.

In 2009 at the Venice Biennale, Ahmed Mater created his iconic installation Magnetism, consisting of a black square magnet surrounded by iron filings. Mater, drawing inspiration from the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, imbues the artwork with profound symbolism. At its core stands the Kaaba, the ‘House of Allah,’ a cuboid stone draped in black, enthroned at the centre of the city’s Great Mosque. Mater uses a magnet to form the invisible draw of Islam’s holiest site, highlighting the spiritual forces that uphold the human faith. This installation engendered his celebrated series of photographic images until the same series title. In 2023 Christie’s sold a 2021 photographic print of Mater’s Magnetism (Triptych) for £189,000, setting a world auction record for the artist.

Mater’s medical specialism and background in radiology is evident in his Illumination series, where he combines X-ray images with traditional Islamic motifs, symbolising the intersection of science and faith. The artist does not shy away from making social commentary through his art: his series Evolution of Man explores the individual emotions under an oil-reliant economy.

Ahmed Mater has exhibited internationally, including at the British Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2024 Christie’s held a mid-career retrospective of Ahmed Mater with over 100 works spanning paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture and installation, chronicling the major milestones of Mater’s career.