RIYADH: The “Perfumes of the East” exhibition made its first international stop in Riyadh.
It is a collaboration between the National Museum of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Institute of the Arab World in Paris.
The exhibition, which will continue until September 14 at the museum, offers its visitors a journey through the richness of the perfumes of the Arab world, showcasing the perfumes and scents of the East, the cultural traditions that have influenced perfumes and their important social roll. in Saudi culture.
The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille, and Christophe Farnaud, the EU ambassador, were among those present at the opening ceremony, along with other representatives of the Arab World Institute, leaders of the Ministry of Culture and the Museums Commission, and artists from the Kingdom , the Arab world and France.
The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille, during the exhibition. (AN/Loai Elkelawy)
“Perfumes of the East is an amazing exhibition, which has been transferred from Paris to Riyadh,” said Pouille. βIt was presented for the first time at the Institute of the Arab World in Paris and it was a great successβ¦ so many people visited.
“It’s amazing because you combine history and artwork. You have artists who participated in this exhibition and that is the beauty of it. It is not only the history of perfumes in the Middle East, it is more than that.
βI’m amazed by the jasmine dress of a young Saudi artist, who was also there in Paris, and of course you can smell jasmine, but it’s more than that. It’s about the heritage, the traditions of Saudi Arabia and I like it,” said the French envoy.
The exhibition highlighted the cultural and historical significance of perfume in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, providing insight into its origins in the Arabian Peninsula, an important trade hub through which aromatic plants and spices were distributed to ancient societies.
“A distinguished exhibition that revives an authentic national heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Dalia Seoudy, one of the guests at the museum. βIt presents aromatic knowledge and surrounds one of the most important elements of the intangible Saudi heritage, a journey between the roses of Taif and the jasmine of the southern region. This museum reminded me of perfumes in Paris, but it is very authentic, creative and beautiful.”
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Christophe Farnaud, the Ambassador of the European Union at the Perfumes of the East exhibition in Riyadh. (AN/Loai Elkelawy)
The exhibition is designed to create a balance of olfactory and visual experience for visitors, with fragrance release devices carefully placed and selected for the exhibition by internationally acclaimed fragrance designer Christopher Sheldrake.
More than 200 objects and works of art, both ancient and modern, are on display, weaving a narrative of the enduring relationship between the Arab world and perfume.
The exhibition unfolds through distinct spaces β from the raw beauty of nature to busy city streets and the setting of a private residence. This trajectory enables visitors to experience the evolution of perfumery through a mix of historical treasures and contemporary artistic expressions.
This exhibition is in line with the National Museum’s commitment to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and the enduring legacy of Arab and Islamic culture.
It offers a multifaceted educational and cultural experience, enriched by accompanying workshops and seminars that delve into the composition of perfumes, the complex process of their creation and the artistic design of perfume packaging.