An open-air museum in the heart of nature, a cultural and artistic landmark in the Sultanate of Oman

If there had not been people who believed in the idea of capturing and immortalizing moments, while at the same time transmitting the histories spanning thousands of years, perhaps today we would not be able to see the statues of ancient Egypt, Palmyra or Petra nor fully recognize the legacy of civilizations such as the Pharaonic, Roman and Nabataeans cultures. From there, the passion of sculpture emerged as one of the most important forms of artistic expression. Although sculpture presents inanimate forms, it has the remarkable ability to tell stories, much like a writer or a witness, becoming a narrator of events. A collective of young Omani artists chose to contribute to this ongoing artistic narrative, beginning with the most visible and tangible material of their present.

This vision took shape through the establishment of a global sculpture camp in the historic city of Sohar, a setting chosen for the depth of its majestic civilization and for offering the noblest material for sculpting: stone. Following the economic and social renaissance of the Sultanate of Oman, the need for a parallel cultural renaissance became increasingly evident, as one wing cannot fly alone. Across its successive editions, the Sohar International Sculpture Camp, has expanded its artistic horizons through the participation of internationally renowned sculptors, whose works stand as living testimony to the Sultanate of Oman’s identity as a nation of culture, art and peace.

This great event, which has developed both roots and branches, reflects not only the value of art in Oman but also embraces a broader human responsibility. It conveys multilingual messages carried by artists from different countries, destined for a global audience. In doing so, Oman and Sohar in particular, has become a place of creative “pilgrimage” for contemporary artists, an open-air museum capable of containing countless ideas within a single stone. Moreover, the Sohar International Sculpture Camp continues to support both domestic and international tourism, steadily establishing itself as an important cultural and artistic landmark across time and place.

THE 12TH SOHAR INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE CAMP

From February 1 to 14, 2025, the Sohar Art Team organized the 12th edition of the International Sculpture Camp by the site where it takes place every year, amidst the limestone mountains of Wadi Al-Jizzi in the Wilayat of Sohar. This event has become one of the most prominent artistic gatherings in the region, offering a unique space for creative expression, cultural exchange and immersion in nature. The camp is part of Sohar Art’s ongoing efforts to support the artistic movement and provide a fertile environment for sculptors to create, interact, and exchange cultural experiences. It serves as an interactive platform that brings together a selected group of sculptors from around the world for an intensive two-week artistic and human experience. This edition featured 15 artists from 11 countries:

• Oman: Ahmed Al-Shabibi, Abdulaziz Al-Mamari, Ahmed Al-Ajmi, and Hussein Al-Sheikh
• Spain: Antonio Vigo
• Italy: Stefano Sabetta and Antonella Tiozzo
• Syria: Aktham Abdulhamid
• Iraq: Salam Mohammed Saeed
• Kuwait: Fahad Al-Hajri
• Georgia: Taliko Toidze
• Romania: Petre Mogosanu
• Russia: Ilia Mishanin
• Poland: Wiktor Kopacz
• Iran: Enayat Sahraei.

The camp was inaugurated by His Excellency Mahmood bin Abdullah Al-Owainee, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, during an artistic celebration attended by dignitaries, ambassadors, art enthusiasts, and visual artists. The event marked the official launch of the camp’s activities and diverse programs. During this edition, the participating artists completed 15 large-scale sculptures, some of them up to three meters high. These works reflect unique and varied artistic visions inspired by the surrounding landscape, its history, or themes chosen by the artists themselves. The artworks harmonized with the geological context and aesthetic of the site.

The artists resided in a specially prepared camp adjacent to the sculpting site, creating an ideal environment for undistracted artistic creation, away from the city's noise, immersed in peaceful winter atmospheres and the stillness of the mountains. Warm human connections flourished between participants and organizers, cultivating a strong sense of unity, as if they were one artistic family, an experience rarely found elsewhere. The camp program also included cultural and tourist visits to historical and natural sites, as well as evenings of traditional Omani music and dance, along with presentations introducing local customs and heritage. This provided the artists with a deep cultural immersion into Omani society.

Additionally, emerging sculptors were invited to attend workshops and several painters joined the Camp to document the event through their artwork. At the end of the camp, an open-air art exhibition was held at the sculpting site, where the completed works were displayed to visitors and art enthusiasts. The camp concluded with a stunning visual experience that embodied the dialogue between human and stone, leaving behind a new layer of beauty etched into the land. For the first time, the sculptures will remain on permanent display at the site, joining works from previous camps to form an open-air museum in the heart of nature, a unique cultural and artistic landmark in the Sultanate of Oman.