Ibrahim Mahama at Desert X AlUla

Desert X AlUla is a recurring, site-responsive open-air art exhibition held in the ancient desert region of AlUla. Taking place as a highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival, the theme of Desert X AlUla is ‘In the Presence of Absence’, prompting the question ‘what cannot be seen?’

Marking the third year of Desert X AlUla, this year’s exhibition was curated by Maya El Khalil and Marcello Dantas and features 15 commissioned works, including Ibrahim Mahama’s Dung Bara – The Rider Does Not Know the Ground Is Hot (2024). The installation consists of terracotta pots that have been scattered across the landscape, suggesting new ecosystems emerging from relics of history.