ALKHOBAR: The sixth International Video Art Forum launched this week at the Cinema Society headquarters in Alkhobar, offering a visual feast for afficionados.
Organized by the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Cinema Society, the event runs for 10 days and will feature groundbreaking video art from around the globe.
A jury of experts selected 56 artworks, narrowed down from 127. And the space showcases work from 29 countries, narrowed down from 41.
The forum has become one of the region鈥檚 top international platforms for video art, having featured more than 823 artworks from over 70 countries. (Supplied)
鈥淭here is no particular theme this year 鈥 aside from it being within the realm of 鈥榠magination embodied, reality transformed,鈥欌 Yousif Al-Harbi, director of SASCA鈥檚 Dammam branch and general supervisor of the forum, told Arab News.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.鈥
The videos can be watched in the upstairs space, which is covered with a black cloth door. Only three people can watch the short films as they play on a loop.
This year鈥檚 works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.
Yousif Al-Harbi, Saudi Society for Culture and Arts director
The longest video is 7 minutes and the shortest under a minute.
A notable video is the 3-minute 鈥淐horeography of Space and Time鈥 by German-based Egyptian artist Ehab Aziz that blends abstract imagery and dynamic movement.
In addition, 黑料社区鈥檚 Lina Saeed Qattan鈥檚 minute-long 鈥淟ena and the Magic Carpet,鈥 uses artificial intelligence to showcase vibrant colors as Lena travels through the desert.
Organized by the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Cinema Association, the Video Art Forum will feature video art from around the globe. (Supplied)
Arab News spoke with the 21-year-old Yemeni director, Yousef Ahmed, who has lived his entire life in the Eastern Province, about his short film, 鈥淒ose.鈥
鈥淭he film is about a depressed person who replaces his medication with sweets after reading a newspaper article,鈥 he explained.
鈥淚t explores his journey of shifting perspectives 鈥 rising out of his sadness, only to sometimes fall back into it. We鈥檝e all had days like this, and that鈥檚 completely normal.鈥
The film, under a minute long, was shot and edited entirely on a mobile phone over a month, specifically for the forum. 鈥淭he phone is always available and accessible,鈥 he said.
He added that finding the right music and fitting it into a larger format such as a TV screen was a challenge.
Workshops dedicated to AI and painting with light, were also part of the programming, as well as panel discussions with filmmakers and artists.
The forum has become one of the region鈥檚 top international platforms for video art, having featured more than 823 artworks from over 70 countries.
It has also hosted 31 lectures and workshops, offering artists a unique opportunity to connect and share their work with a global audience.
The winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
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