More than 200 artists, 20 workshops and collaborative pavilions headline the January 15–31 expo
KUWAIT: Gardenia will officially open on Thursday, January 15, for its fourth season at the Kuwait National Museum, offering visitors a unique cultural experience from arts, design, music and outdoor events to creative living. This year, Gardenia will be held as part of the National Day Celebrations, under the patronage of Minister of Information Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature.
Speaking to Kuwait Times, Architect Bashar Al-Salem, Founder and CEO of Kayan, stated that the main Gardenia Expo will take place from January 15 to 31, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, at the Kuwait National Museum and its surrounding areas. These include Al-Bader House, the museum’s outdoor garden and Sadu House.
He added that the annual Gardenia Gallery will also be held, featuring more than 200 Kuwaiti artists, both male and female. When asked about what distinguishes Gardenia this year, Al-Salem explained that the most prominent addition is the integration of art and culture as core pillars, alongside a strong educational component.
He revealed: “This includes collaboration with Kuwait University’s College of Architecture, in addition to several private institutes, to offer artistic, architectural and environmental and cultural awareness workshops.” He indicated that Gardenia will be hosting more than 20 training workshops, distributed across multiple areas as part of an educational program tailored for visitors.
Architect Bashar Al-Salem
Bader Al-Mutawa
KUWAIT: The Gardenia art exhibition is officially launching on January 15 and is considered one of the largest art exhibitions in Kuwait.
Regarding the expo sections, Gardenia brings together a wide range of participants, from major companies and governmental and private institutions to small and youth-led projects. Gardenia is not a conventional exhibition, but rather a collaborative platform where multiple companies work together to create distinctive pavilions, said Al-Salem. For example, a materials company may collaborate with a restaurant to deliver an integrated and engaging visitor experience.
As for participation, he pointed out that over 60 major companies participated, and between 30 and 40 small businesses, including cafés, handicrafts, weaving and similar ventures, in addition to more than 200 local artists. He also extended his appreciation to all supporting government entities for their significant role in the success of the event, including the Ministry of Information, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Kuwait Municipality, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Interior, the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs, the Public Authority for Youth and the Kuwait Fire Force.
Regarding the event timeline, Al-Salem noted that the Gardenia season runs from December until early March. “The season began with a soft opening on December aimed at activating the site and the garden, while the main Gardenia Expo will be held from January 15 to 31, coinciding with Kuwait’s National and Liberation Day celebrations in February. This will be followed by a special Ramadan program, to be announced at a later date.”
On the activities, he said that Gardenia will also be accompanied by a variety of cultural attractions, including an open heritage museum, the planetarium, Kuwait National Museum exhibitions, art galleries, live music performances and cultural bands scheduled throughout the Expo period. Al-Salem welcomed the public to attend, noting that the weather is ideal and the experience is truly unique, inviting everyone to discover the story of Gardenia on the ground.
For his part, Bader Al-Mutawa, Director of Artistic and Cultural Activities at Gardenia, stated that the art exhibition will officially launch on January 15 and is considered one of the largest art exhibitions in Kuwait, bringing together a wide range of artists representing diverse artistic schools and creative approaches under one roof at Gardenia.
Regarding coordination with artists, Al-Mutawa explained that preparations began in October, in collaboration with Al-Salem, with the adoption of a fully digital registration system. “The open call for participation was launched on November 5 through digital platforms and social media channels. During a one-month registration period, the number of applications far exceeded expectations, reaching 1,050 submissions, compared to initial estimates of 60 to 200 artists,” he said.
He continued: “Following an automated screening process that eliminated incomplete or inaccurate applications, 580 eligible submissions were approved. These then underwent a selection process by specialized committees, with artwork reviewed on a weekly basis to ensure alignment with the exhibition’s identity and artistic standards. The final selection resulted in the participation of 180 artists, presenting more than 200 artworks at the Gardenia Art Exhibition.”
Regarding art workshops, Al-Mutawa said that Gardenia coordinated with the Institute of Fine Arts to organize workshops running throughout an entire month within the Gardenia venue. The workshops cover a variety of disciplines, including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolors and handicrafts.
These workshops will take place alongside the exhibition, allowing visitors to experience the art gallery and live creative processes simultaneously. He confirmed that participation in the workshops will be open to the public through prior registration, with applicants registering via the Gardenia team, which will then coordinate schedules, capacities and participation details with the Institute of Fine Arts.
He emphasized that Gardenia’s artistic program extends beyond exhibitions and workshops to include special cultural events, such as a mural challenge held in December with the participation of more than six artists and a new mural art to be announced later. As well as an exclusive, high-end musical concert hosted within Gardenia.
Al-Mutawa stressed that Gardenia aims to deliver a comprehensive and ongoing artistic experience, combining exhibition, interaction and education within a single cultural space.
