Saudi Capital Guest of Honor as Riyadh Pavilion Opens at Buenos Aires Book Fair

Saudi Capital Guest of Honor as Riyadh Pavilion Opens at Buenos Aires Book Fair
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Saudi Capital Guest of Honor as Riyadh Pavilion Opens at Buenos Aires Book Fair

Saudi Capital Guest of Honor as Riyadh Pavilion Opens at Buenos Aires Book Fair

The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission officially launched the Riyadh pavilion at the 49th Buenos Aires International Book Fair in Argentina.

The event, running from April 22 to May 12, features the Saudi capital as the guest of honor.
The commission leads Riyadh's participation in the fair, with a Saudi delegation that reflects the vibrant cultural and literary scene in Saudi Arabia with representatives from the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the Heritage Commission, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.
The King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, and the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) are also represented, alongside the King Abdulaziz Public Library and the King Fahad National Library. Together, they aim to create a window for the fair's audience to experience Saudi culture, attracting visitors from Argentina and around the world, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Riyadh pavilion enhances the Saudi cultural presence in Latin America, introducing the capital as a model of civilization that reflects the transformative Saudi Vision 2030, SPA said.

It features a diverse array of literary and cultural content, including translations into Spanish to help build bridges of cultural understanding, it added.
Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission chief executive Abdullatif Alwasel, Buenos Aires Chief of Government Jorge Macri, Buenos Aires' Minister of Culture Gabriela Ricardes, and Argentina's Fundación El Libro (the Book Foundation) president, Christian Rainone, witnessed the launch of the Riyadh pavilion.



Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

As they painstakingly scrape grime off a monumental painting by French artist Gustave Courbet, the restorers do a remarkable job of ignoring their unusual surroundings: They're watched by crowds of people, many recording on mobile phones.

Paris' Orsay Museum has thrown open to the public a process that often happens behind closed doors.

The cleaning and repairs to "A Burial at Ornans," one of the museum's signature works that Courbet painted between 1849 and 1850, are taking place in a bespoke enclosure with windows for visitors to peer through.

"A great idea," said Jennifer Dasal, a visiting art historian from North Carolina. "If it’s lasting for a while, people can come back and they can watch the restoration over time."

The restoration is expected to take about a year. The painting hasn't had a major overhaul for about 50 years. Layers of varnish that yellowed over time have dulled Courbet's colors. The weight of the huge work has deformed its frame, and its canvas has stitching, folds and tears that need attention.

The museum also plans free guided tours of their work for those who register on its website, with three time slots every Thursday morning from June 5.

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