Contemporary artist Ahmed Mater showcased his innovative works during his first large-scale solo exhibition, "Ahmed Mater: Antenna," which opened on March 7, 2025, at the UCCA Edge in Shanghai, accompanied by the enchanting aroma of cardamom-flavored coffee.
At 46 years old, Mater is hailed as one of Saudi Arabia's most significant contemporary artists. His multifaceted career began as a physician, yet he has devoted decades to capturing and critically examining modern Saudi Arabian life. Through diverse media, including painting, photography, sculpture, and installations, he crafts conceptual pieces exploring collective memories of Saudi history, spanning the oil boom and the rapid shifts within society.
The exhibition, set to run until June 8, 2025, serves as a mid-career retrospective. It showcases over 100 artworks, including major series and significant milestones, all of which provide insight not only ink Mater's artistic practices but also his explorations of themes—reflecting the dynamic visual arts scene of Saudi Arabia amid significant societal transformations. Philip Tinari, director of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, remarked on the exhibition's importance, stating it reveals Mater's role at the forefront of Saudi Arabia's vibrant art ecosystem.
Presented by UCCA Edge and the Saudi Ministry of Culture, represented by the Saudi Visual Arts Commission, the exhibition marks the official celebration of the Saudi Chinese Cultural Year 2025, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Saudi Arabia, noted Dina Amin, CEO of the visual arts commission.
Recognized as one of China's leading contemporary art institutions, UCCA has long engaged with the Saudi art scene. Tinari reflected on his first encounter with Mater at Art Basel Hong Kong back in 2014 and mentioned his subsequent visit to Saudi Arabia in 2019, indicating the significant cultural exchanges underway between the two nations. He previously curated the inaugural Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in 2021, which featured contributions from numerous Chinese artists.
Upon entering the UCCA Edge, guests are greeted by a mihrab located at the reception hall—a visually compelling structure resembling the decorated entrance often found within traditional Chinese gardens. Visitors stepping through this gateway are met with swirling red lights and audio cues, setting the tone for the impactful experience to follow.
The exhibition's second-floor galleries present Mater's early creations. The X-Ray series of paintings, developed between 2003 and 2004 during his medical practice, expertly blend Islamic cultural motifs with abstract experimentation. Another highlight, the Empty Land series, features photographs illustrating the fluctuated abundance and decline of the oil economy over the years, contributing to the broader narrative of Saudi Arabia's economic evolution.
Mater's Magnetism series offers installation pieces symbolizing the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca, intertwining personal reflection with universal themes. The title piece, Antenna, is particularly significant, inspired by Mater's childhood memories of climbing onto his family house's roof to adjust their battered TV antenna toward the evening sky.
“The antenna carries unique symbolic significance throughout both my upbringing and artistic career,” Mater expressed, reminiscing about how this simple act allowed him to explore the world beyond his immediate surroundings. “Like many of my generation, I was seeking ideas, music, poetry—a glimpse of another life. This spirit of creative exploration and curiosity has defined my artistic path.”
The third level of the exhibition reveals more installations and ambitious projects. Among them is the Lightning Land project, inspired by fulgurites—glass tubes formed from sand struck by lightning, which can create unusual, elongated shapes. Mater drew parallels between the unpredictable forces of nature and the rapid transformations shaping Saudi society, employing high-voltage generation to create sculptures reflecting these themes.
The UCCA also features a miniature representation of Mater's 2022 project, Ashab Al-Lal, a significant site-specific land art installation set within the sweeping Valley of the Arts, which spans 65 square kilometers and is located northwest of Saudi Arabia.
Mater skillfully examines the phenomenon of mirages, often perceived as deceptive illusions. Still, he reinterprets them as symbols of hope and guidance for travelers. Visitors descending through the exhibition's tunnel enter a subterranean chamber where they can see distant figures walking through the desert, creating meaningful interactions between art, environment, and perception.
Mater's impressive body of work has been featured internationally, with selected pieces held at prominent institutions including The British Museum, the Mori Art Museum, and the Guggenheim, alongside collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Centre Pompidou. His artistic contributions have positioned him as a cornerstone of contemporary Saudi and international arts.
For those wishing to explore this remarkable exhibition, "Ahmed Mater: Antenna" is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, with the last entry available at 6:30 PM.
The exhibition runs from March 8 to June 8, 2025, at UCCA Edge, located at 88 Xizang Road North, Jing'an district, Shanghai. For more information, you can reach the exhibition space at 021-66286861.