Take Over Jeddah | Andrés Reisinger

Digital artist and designer Andrés Reisinger presents ‘Take Over Jeddah’, a new physical manifestation of the viral series of artworks that have successfully transcended the boundaries between physical and digital realms. ‘Take Over Jeddah’ unveils at the first edition of Balad Al-Fann, a cutting-edge arts and culture initiative, as part of the ‘Matters through Matter Exhibition’, curated by Jumana Ghouth in collaboration with Graham Haman; it will remain on display until March 2024. The new installation is presented at Balad Al-Fann,the cultural manifestation that aims to revive Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed district and foster its future as a vibrant cultural hub.

Since its launch in December 2023, Balad Al-Fann has showcased diverse works from local and international artists, exploring themes such as heritage, migration, climate change, and the transformative power of art under the theme of ‘Past Forward’. Located in the heart of the historical Jeddah's Old Town, Reisinger’s work in Matters Through Matter pushes the boundaries of our understanding of non-physical and physical entities: a physical manifestation of a digital project that has travelled around the world. For its Jeddah realisation, the installation aims to cast a modern hue over ancient narratives, asking the viewer to consider tradition through a renewed lens. Whilst the ancient structure seems shrouded in material, in fact the work does not touch the building itself.

The work was commissioned as a way of triggering discussion around meaning and value in architectural ‘objects’, in particular those that are at risk of abandonment and that represent the city’s cultural and societal past. After the much acclaimed first physical expression of the digital Take Over series, which took place in Miami during the December 2023 Art Week and which presented a new manifestation of a democratic and experiential art, Reisinger presents another monumental 17 metres tall installation that interprets the cultural being of Jeddah.

In the ancient streets of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a striking contrast emerges: the impressive fruition of a substantial physical undertaking, notably challenging because of its expansive scale. This area has long been a melting pot of cultures, evidenced by its traditional coral-block architecture and bustling souks. Here, amid the echoes of a rich history that dates back to the 7th century, "Take Over Jeddah" emerges as a beacon of contemporary expression. Once again, in this novel exercise of creation Reisinger has looked at Jeddah, its architecture, art, past, present and future under his own creative lenses, gracefully enveloping an Old Town’s ancient building in an immense pink fabric. The artist has woven these stimuli into his distinctive interpretation and language, presenting a poetic viewpoint of an artistic future that harmoniously fuses the tapestry of the past and present. Pink, Reisinger’s signature colour, reflects this vibrant spirit while embodying an inherent feeling of comfort and familiarity, both in a personal and universal dimension that can foster human connections in a shared sense of unity and belonging.

This sense of human participation is key in understanding Reisinger’s artform. In reinterpreting some of the most recognisable capitals of the world, now both physically and digitally, the talent contributes with a new layer of creative energy that invites us to look at cities and their role under new and rejuvenated light. With this new piece Reisinger once again affirms himself as the artist shaping a new experience of art that lives in multiple dimensions, while only becoming alive through the participation of the viewers.

"Take Over Jeddah" is truly a public art installation that serves as a spark for conversations, an invitation to reflect on the coexistence of heritage and innovation, urging us to contemplate the role of art in contemporary society. “It is a tribute to the new energy coursing through the universe, to the resilience and adaptability of cultures. In Jeddah's Old Town, where history has been preserved for centuries, My work stands as a symbol of the new narratives that art can formulate, shaping the future while honouring the past” states Reisinger, as he continues to branch to otherworldly locations through the digital, and to remain grounded in the spectacular and mesmerising earthly sensations.

Photography: Karina Perez Spritze, Rhose Studio, Mohammed Ali