From Vows to Forever: The Story Behind ‘A Night of a Lifetime’
In Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian Museum of Contemporary Art has opened its doors to an exhibition that transforms weddings into art. “A Night of a Lifetime” explores marriage as both personal commitment and cultural celebration, bringing together works from more than 30 local, regional, and international artists who reimagine the ceremonial and emotional dimensions of union.
Running until April 18, the show is curated by Alaa Tarabzouni and Philippe Castro. It offers visitors a journey through the public spectacle and private meaning of weddings—from the sparkle of celebration to the quiet work of lasting commitment.
Entering the Celebration
The first hall immerses visitors in the ceremonial aspects of marriage. Floating fabrics drift overhead. Shimmering dance installations catch the light. Woven chandeliers hang like dreams made tangible. A wedding fountain flows. Children’s festive clothing evokes generations of family gatherings.
Noura Al-Maashoug, director of SAMoCA, describes the exhibition’s intention: “All of these artists are exploring both familial practices, their societal practices, what is carried on from earlier traditions, and what traditions we let go of as we move towards the future.”
She emphasizes the intimate nature of the show. “A lot of the artists have explored very personal stories, either related to themselves or people from their family. And there’s also a lot of—especially from the Arab world—themes of the public and private celebrations and how weddings really reveal those disparities.”
Garments That Tell Stories
Lebanese artist Milia Maroun’s contribution, “A Love-Living Story,” features three suspended garments draped in plants, floating between ground and ceiling. These are “kimabayas”—hybrid garments Maroun imagined, blending the fluid grace of the kimono with the spiritual symbolism of the abaya.
“The kimabayas are not still-life memories, but living symbols—sanctuaries that breathe, grow, and evolve alongside the couple,” the artist wrote. “They tell of a marriage where body and spirit rise together, between Earth and sky, held in a luminous, living promise.”
Nearby, Moroccan artist Sara Benabdallah’s “Dry Land” series and French artist Valerie Belin’s “Moroccan Brides” series present grand, theatrical traditional clothing through still-life portraits. The brides become models for decorative motifs, perhaps signifying unexpected roles that tradition assigns.
Walking Down the Aisle
Visitors are led down a bright pink aisle to the kosha—the elevated seating area for bride and groom typical of Middle Eastern weddings. Here, the exhibition invites interaction. Guests can sit for photographs with loved ones, mirroring the experience of actual wedding celebrations.
“I really want people to just have a lot of fun with this,” Al-Maashoug said. “It’s a sumptuous, beautiful show. The scenography was designed very deliberately for people to enjoy themselves. But at the same time, all of the works are incredibly rich with nuance.”
Beyond the Sparkle
The neighboring hall explores darker themes—personal experiences with marriage that extend beyond celebration. French artist Nicolas Henry’s “Yasmine and Khalil, the Story of a Love Encounter” presents an ambiguous narrative of love not fully lived.
Saudi artist Sultan bin Fahad’s sparkling mountain of collected chandeliers and ornaments symbolizes what’s discarded after the ceremony ends. Batool Alshomrani’s “A Risky Game” frames book pages titled with what union might mean: “The Passionate Friends,” “Alone,” “The Veil of Money.”
Amani Al-Thuwaini’s “He Is Not Your Choice” tackles the taboo thoughts of a bride facing arranged marriage, her words embroidered on a cascading veil. The piece gives voice to private doubts that coexist with public celebration.
What Weddings Reveal
Ultimately, the exhibition is less about weddings than about what they reveal: our longing to be seen, chosen, and remembered. Through humor, exaggeration, and sincerity, the artists explore the language of celebration. Ornaments become symbols of emotions. Costume carries meaning beyond fabric.
There’s also emphasis on marriage as labor—the daily choreography of care, endurance, and compromise. Beyond the sparkle lies the quiet work of maintaining union in gestures too small to be photographed, moments that endure once the lights fade.
“We have a lot of young artists, but we also have quite established artists as well,” Al-Maashoug said. “What’s beautiful about weddings is, no matter what generation you are, you engage with it. Whether you’re looking forward to attending your first wedding, or you’re looking forward to falling in love, or you’re a little bit older and reminiscing about your experiences or those of your loved ones, there’s really something for everyone.”
Love, in all its imperfect forms, emerges as a profound act of optimism—a decision to trust the unknown, to embrace belief, to say yes. “A Night of a Lifetime” captures that moment, and everything that comes after.
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