Memory of Becoming. Arcangelo Sassolino alla II Biennale d'Arte Islamica in Arabia Saudita

26 January - 25 May 2025

And All That Is In Between is the title for the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, organized by the Diriyah Biennale Art Foundation. The exhibition will take place from January 25th until May 25th, 2025 at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz Airport.
Memory of becoming is the installation designed specifically for the international exhibition by Arcangelo Sassolino, who is the only Italian invited by Muhannad Shono to create a site-specific work for the Islamic Arts Biennale. Shono and Sassolino met during 59th International Art Exhibition in Venice, where Shono represented Saudi Arabia Pavilion and Sassolino the Malta Pavilion.

Memory of Becoming expands on the theme of delicate balance and the inevitability of transformation.
At the heart of the installation a vast, spinning disk is coated with a high-viscosity industrial oil. This disk, in constant motion, orchestrates a precarious dance between stability and collapse. The installation spans an impressive 8 meters in diameter, creating a profound and immersive experience.
Time is an intrinsic element of this piece. The continuous rotation of the disk, maintaining the adherence of the oil, symbolizes the relentless passage of time and the persistent effort required to sustain existence. The gradual dripping of oil onto the ground serves as a poignant reminder of loss and dissipation, a testament to the impermanence that underlies all creation. This artwork embodies the struggle against the inevitable, mirroring the human condition of resisting decay while being inexorably drawn toward it. The spinning disk and the adhering oil serve as metaphors for life’s continuous motion and the inherent tension between opposing forces—stability and change, persistence and decay. The work challenges the viewer to embrace the fluidity of transformation, reflecting on their own existence and the perpetual state of becoming. Sassolino’s piece transcends mere observation, inviting introspection and a deeper understanding of the temporality and fragility of life.

This work engages deeply with the cultural and spiritual environment of its location. The installation’s themes of time, transformation, and the ephemeral nature of existence resonate profoundly within the historical and cultural context of Jeddah, a city that serves as a gateway to the holy sites of Islam. Sassolino has meticulously conceived this work to reflect the unique spirit of the Biennale, which seeks to explore and celebrate the intersections of art, culture, and spirituality. The choice of industrial oil as a primary medium not only evokes the region’s rich history with oil but also symbolizes the fluidity and resilience of the local culture, which has continually evolved and adapted through centuries. The circular motion of the disk mirrors the cyclical nature of time and existence, a concept deeply embedded in Islamic philosophy and cosmology. This kinetic artwork, placed within the sacred and contemplative atmosphere of the Biennale, invites viewers to reflect on the impermanence of life and the constant state of flux that defines our reality.