Hussein Nassereddine

Years of the Shining Face, an installation by Lebanese artist Hussein Nassereddine, presented at the Diriyah Biennale 2026, explores the journey of poetry and music across time, culture, and collective memory.

The work centers around three sculptural “Time Objects”: a powerful mask, a symbolic gateway to the unseen, and an abstract cylindrical form. Inspired by the evolving spaces of artistic expression—from desert gatherings of early poets to modern performance stages—these objects act as living participants rather than static artworks.

Activated through sound and light, the installation continuously transforms. Changes in illumination alter colour, intensity, and spatial presence, mirroring how songs, voices, and poetic traditions shift as they move between generations and mediums.

Through this dynamic interaction, Years of the Shining Face reflects on artistic inheritance and cultural continuity, emphasizing that music and poetry are not fixed historical artifacts but living forces reshaped by each new audience and moment in time.