The Gate of Gates

An enchanting visual journey through one of the most iconic edifices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Bab Al-Bunt heritage building. Located in Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of Jeddah, Bab Al-Bunt was once vibrant with life. Until the 1950s, it served at the city''s customhouse, in Jeddah''s capacity as the Red Sea''s main port. For decades, this magnificent building also represented the main gateway through the Red Sea for millions of Muslim believers from around the world who travelled to Mecca to perform their pilgrimage, turning Jeddah into the gateway to Mecca. In order to celebrate and preserve this building''s unique historical and architectural value, the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia turned Bab Al-Bunt into a major cultural and artistic destination: the Red Sea Museum. With its rare collection of books, maps, photographs, historical artifacts, and contemporary artworks, the museum represents a cultural and historical window into the aesthetic and heritage values of the Red Sea coastal cities. The Gate of Gates is the catalogue of the Red Sea Museum''s inaugural exhibition. Curated by famous writer Philippe Cardinal, the exhibit showcases a unique collection of photographs by renowned Saudi artist Moath Alofi, that revives the soul of this magnificent building, rich in history and memory.

Auteur

Born in Madina, Saudi Arabia in 1984, Moath Alofi is an artist, researcher, photographer and explorer. He is the founder of Almthba, an interdisciplinary studio focusing on the region of Medina by promoting art and assisting researchers.

Texte du rabat

The Gate of Gates is the catalogue of the Red Sea Museum s inaugural exhibition. Curated by famous writer Philippe Cardinal, the exhibit showcases a unique collection of photographs by renowned Saudi artist Moath Alofi that revives the soul of this magnificent building, rich in history and memory. Commissioned by Saudi Arabiäs Ministry of Culture to photo[1]graphing Bab Al-Bunt prior to its renovation and repurposing as a museum, Moath Alofi not only captures the rich architectural details of Bab Al-Bunt; he also encapsulates the sense of mystery behind the items he found abandoned in the building, objects of the past that recall another era and stand witness to the vitality of the place for hundreds of years. The sober yet powerful photographs convey a striking impression of serenity and purity; a serenity that probably evokes the quietude of the millions of pilgrims who landed in Jeddah after a long and perilous journey across the Red Sea, awaiting to reach their final destination in the holy city. A purity that reflects the innocence of their souls, the patience and self-sacrifice they have shown to reach the geographical center of their religious faith and surrender their person to God. Alofi s still photographs paradoxically vibrate with life ; they communicate the aspirations, memories, dreams, and feelings of pilgrims, merchants, and dwellers who have turned Bab Al-Bunt into the Gate of Gates .