WORLD EXPO, OSAKA 2025

Done+Dusted was entrusted by the Ministry of Culture to curate and deliver a rich, multidisciplinary programme for the Cultural Studios and the Nightly Show within the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Our scope was clear: showcase the extraordinary breadth of Saudi creativity to a global audience, through a truly world-class artistic and cultural experience.

Across six months, more than 3 million visitors engaged with Saudi art, music, design and craftsmanship through a rotation of exhibitions, residencies, workshops, performances and cross-cultural collaborations. The Pavilion earned 10 Expo Awards, and was recognised by CNN as one of the top ten pavilions to visit - a testament to the depth and ambition of the programme.

At the heart of the Pavilion were two Cultural Studios - one dedicated to visual art, the other to music. Each was shaped by independent Saudi curators, and connected through a unifying conceptual framework: Space & Time. This overarching narrative guided all commissioned works, creating a cohesive visitor journey while allowing each studio to retain its own distinct curatorial voice.

We worked closely with curators, artists and musicians to oversee end-to-end delivery - from artist selection and coordination to residency management, scheduling, technical production, content development, logistics and daily on-site operations. Across the programme, we collaborated with some of the Kingdom’s most prolific contemporary artists, including internationally recognised figures such as Manal AlDowayan, Muhannad Shono and Nasser Al Salem, ensuring the Pavilion celebrated the extraordinary vitality and diversity of Saudi visual culture.

A total of 57 celebrated Saudi artists and performers were showcased in a rotating programme including:

Muhannad Shono, Sultan Bin Fahad, Rashed Alshashai, Marwah Almugait, Nasser Al Salem, Manal AlDowayan, Mohammad Ali Agency, Basmah Felemban, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Hayfa Algwaiz, Badr Ali, Asaad Badawi, Joud Fahmy, Bashaer Hawsawi, Sara Abdu, Reem Al Nasser, Daniah Alsaleh, Ahmad Angawi, Fulana, Maryam Tariq, Ahmed Fakeih, Nuur Taibah, Tamer Khalil, byTwo, Reef Loretto, Bilal, Desertf!sh and Cosmicat.

Over the course of Expo, the Cultural Studios hosted 21 unique panel discussions, screenings and artist talks, giving visitors the chance to hear directly from the creators. Audiences gained rare insight into artistic processes, inspirations and the cultural stories that shaped each piece.

The programme also featured 64 workshops and artist demonstrations, inviting visitors to watch new commissions come to life and take part in hands-on sessions. Activities ranged from stamping and calligraphy workshops to an Al Qatt participatory installation and collaborative digital artworks.

Each evening, the Pavilion’s Courtyard was transformed through 635 nightly projection-mapped shows - a series of evolving audio-visual spectacles that brought the artists’ works, performances and studio recordings to life. New creations developed on-site were continually added, ensuring every participating artist was celebrated in a dynamic nightly highlight that felt alive, contemporary and uniquely Saudi.

A key pillar of the programme was cultural exchange. Saudi artists worked alongside Japanese artisans, musicians and craftspeople to share techniques and perspectives. These collaborations sparked new works, fresh sounds and creative exchange that reflected both Saudi and Japanese identities - a meeting of cultures rooted in craft, curiosity and artistic respect.

Through this ambitious and ever-evolving programme, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion became a cultural destination in its own right - a living showcase of artistry, collaboration and imagination on the world stage.

Collaborators: 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Culture | 59 Studios | WonderJunkie | Journey | Fosters and Partners