Formafantasma on Designing Diriyah Biennale 2026 Space
An inside look at Formafantasma's exhibition design approach for the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, featuring insights from curators Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Formafantasma designs the exhibition space for the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026
- The event takes place in the massive industrial spaces of the JAX district
- Curators Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed focus on movement, migration, and oral transmission
- The interview is part of the SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE series in partnership with SolidNature
Design studio Formafantasma has shared insights into their workflow and spatial design philosophy, highlighting their recent work for the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which highlights the strong relationship between conceptual ideas and physical environments.
For this edition of the biennale, curators Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed centered their vision around concepts of movement, migration, oral transmission, and various forms of passage, translating these complex themes into tangible spatial experiences.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Regarding the venue, the studio had to work within the expansive industrial spaces located in the JAX district, requiring careful spatial management to adapt to the massive scale of the surrounding architecture.
Exhibition design today goes far beyond simple partitions or display plinths; it actively shapes the interaction between the visitor, the physical structure, and the broader thematic context. Formafantasma's methodology consistently questions material use and spatial narratives to provoke deeper engagement rather than mere passive observation.
This in-depth interview is featured as part of designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, presented in partnership with SolidNature, exploring how wonder and spatial engagement are constructed in contemporary exhibitions.
Source: designboom
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