teamLab to open permanent Borderless museum in Jeddah


16th May 2022

(Saudi Arabia) – International art collective teamLab will open its first permanent teamLab Borderless museum in the Middle East with the launch of teamLab Borderless Jeddah.

Located in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the museum is being built on the shores of the Al-Arbaeen Lagoon, overlooking the panoramic views of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Jeddah.

The immersive museum will feature more than 50 artworks, spread across its expansive and labyrinthine spaces, including Borderless World, Athletics Forest and Future Park. It will also feature an entirely new installation, created exclusively for Jeddah.

His Excellency Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Vice Minister of Culture, Saudi Arabia, said: “Nurturing creativity and unleashing new forms of expression is at the heart of our cultural vision for Saudi Arabia. The concept of ‘borderless’, which sees art transcend boundaries and disciplines, resonates deeply with our efforts to build global bridges, and enhance cultural understanding amongst citizens, residents and visitors. As an innovative project nestled within a UNESCO Heritage site, teamLab Borderless Jeddah promises to provide unique new perspectives, and we are delighted to collaborate with teamLab to bring this immersive, experiential concept to the Kingdom.”

Toshiyuki Inoko, founder of teamLab, added: “Jeddah is one of the leading global cities in the Middle East, with a profound history and rich cultural legacy. We are honoured to be inaugurating the site of teamLab Borderless Jeddah on the banks of Al-Arbaeen Lagoon, an exceptional location facing the UNESCO World Heritage site, Historic Jeddah.

“The concept of teamLab Borderless is that everything exists in a borderless continuity. And our work is based on the continuous accumulation of human knowledge over a long history. For that reason, it is very significant for teamLab to be able to open the permanent teamLab Borderless in Jeddah, right next to a World Cultural Heritage Site. By experiencing teamLab Borderless, we hope that people will be able to move between the seamlessly interconnected past and present, and to imagine an ideal future.”

teamLab Borderless Jeddah is a collaborative initiative between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and teamLab. The project falls under the Quality of Life programme, one of Saudi Vision 2030’s realisation programmes.

In 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia entered a 10-year partnership with teamLab, as part of its mission to support and develop a thriving cultural ecosystem, in line with the Kingdom’s ongoing national transformation. The partnership aims to offer inspiration to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning creative talents in the converging fields of art and technology.

teamLab Borderless Jeddah is currently under construction, with an official opening date to be confirmed soon.

www.teamlab.art

Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, Vice Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia (left) and Toshiyuki Inoko, Founder of teamLab (right) at the construction site of teamLab Borderless Jeddah at Culture Square, in Jeddah. (Photo: Mohammed Alaskandrani)