Deep Waters

Deep Waters encompasses the concept of the sublime, which implies an exaltation or elevation beyond human comprehension. When gazing at the land from above the mountain, the eyes wander and set off on a journey into terrains that inspire wonder, terror, and awe. Sarah Abu Abdallah’s video work is a screen positioned near a cliff overlooking the Riyadh valley. The video shown on the screen takes place within the valley, which seems uninhabited from above. The work is speculative in nature, providing a play of scale and the vertiginous feeling of experiencing the cliff, while it reveals secrets of what lies beyond one’s feet. Its protagonist is the land itself: the earth, insects, and animals – a land that is seemingly rough and bare but is instead full of life and poetry. The video is a 10-minute loop, portraying different times of the day, and using aerial shots, image stabilizers, macro lenses, and audio recordings from the valley itself.

Deep Waters, 2023 © Sarah Abu Abdullah
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art