Photo : Mohammad Alfaraj
Open Space #19 Mohammad Alfaraj
Step into a world where everyday stories transform into lyrical stop-motion fables reflecting the heart of Saudi Arabia. These intimate video installations offer a fresh perspective on how we inhabit our natural surroundings and preserve our collective memory.
Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris 16th)
About
The Louis Vuitton Foundation presents Open Space #19, an exhibition by Saudi multidisciplinary artist Mohammad Alfaraj titled I’d rather be a dragonfly than a lion. Running from October 9, 2026, to January 18, 2027, this show features original stop-motion animation works alongside photographs, drawings, and found objects. Rooted in the oral traditions of the Al Ahsa oasis, Alfaraj’s work explores the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world. This exhibition is accessible with a ticket for the Gustave Fayet, Collector - Creator. Icons of Modern Art exhibition, with entry fees ranging from 0 to 16 euros.
A multidisciplinary artist, Mohammad Alfaraj lives and works from the Al Ahsa oasis, where he develops a practice that combines writing, video, photography, drawing, and sculpture.
Steeped in the oral traditions of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Alfaraj draws inspiration from social practices, urban or rural architecture, and stories of daily life to explore the relationships between humans and nature. His works often take the form of poetic fables that question contemporary ecological, social, and cultural issues.
The exhibition I’d rather be a dragonfly than a lion brings together a collection of new video works within an installation composed of objects, photographs, and drawings. Nourished by the collective imaginations of his native country, his animation videos, created using the stop motion technique, give form to poetic narratives written and performed by the artist himself.
Working with a claimed economy of means, Mohammad Alfaraj carries out the entire creation process — writing, shaping characters and sets, filming, and animation. Rooted in the cultural context of Al-Ahsa, these stories blend imagination, collective memory, and the relationship with living things, finding a universal echo far beyond their original context.
Our take on this event
Based in the Al Ahsa oasis, artist Mohammad Alfaraj creates works that weave together writing, film, photography, and sculpture. His exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, I’d rather be a dragonfly than a lion, showcases a collection of unpublished video pieces. These animations, crafted through stop motion, are interpreted by the artist himself and are presented within a physical installation of objects and drawings that ground his poetic storytelling in the tangible world.
Alfaraj emphasizes an economy of means, managing the entire creative process from character design to animation. His work draws deeply from Saudi Arabian social traditions and local architecture, turning daily life into universal fables that question contemporary environmental and cultural challenges. By bridging the gap between personal memory and collective heritage, he offers a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and nature.
The exhibition is open from October 9, 2026, to January 18, 2027. Visiting hours are 12:00 to 19:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 11:00 to 19:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are priced between 0 and 16 euros. Entry to this exhibition is included with a valid ticket for the Gustave Fayet, Collector - Creator. Icons of Modern Art exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation.
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