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Thursday, April 18, 2024

Banksy wows Saudis in Riyadh exhibition

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Banksy wows Saudis in Riyadh exhibition
Banksy wows Saudis in Riyadh exhibition

Nearly 70 art pieces depicting the works of famed graffiti artist Banksy are on display for the first time in the Middle East, this time in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Banksy - whose identity is not publicly known - is a British street artist who first emerged in Bristol.

Guerilla-style creation of art works are Banksy's trademark.

Social criticism, political statements, irony - that's how his "urban art" can be described, which critically scrutinizes current affairs.

While Banksy has claimed that he never sought commercial success, his murals sell for several hundred thousand dollars in auctions.

The Riyadh exhibition is being held at the King Abdullah Financial Centre and titled "The Art of Banksy - Without Limits", and features 70 graffiti paintings and photographs and a 10-minute documentary about the artist.

Local and foreign visitors who flocked to the exhibition see it as a sign of the kingdom's opening to new methods of creative expression.

The country has witnessed rapid social changes in recent years, including lifting bans on women driving, gender mixing and public entertainment.

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