Evolution of Man

Born in Tabuk in 1979, a year of significant societal shifts in his region, Ahmed Mater pursued medical studies while honing his artistic skills at Al-Meftaha Arts Village. It was there that Mater developed his intuitive approach to art which drew from his medical background and his education rooted in religious thought. Later, he transitioned to more conceptual art, producing some of the most recognisable artworks of the Saudi art scene and becoming one of the most prominent contemporary artists of the Arab world. Adopting a multitude of media - painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and video - that demonstrate exceptional innovation, Mater has produced an extensive body of work over more than two decades. His oeuvre, which includes celebrated series such as the Desert of Pharan and the Evolution of Man, has associated Mater with his country and the symbolism of its sacred cities, finding resonance with audiences both locally and internationally.

In Evolution of Man, Mater returns to the medium of X-ray to comment on oil consumerism. Originally titled What Darwin Did Not Know, the work references the scientific concept of evolution through a series of five images of a man pointing a gun to himself as he morphs into a gas pump. The work questions the anthropocentric risks of oil dependency as the sole source of energy whilst also being the main source of economic growth in Saudi Arabia. The artist presents a foreboding prognosis, that of risks to the environment, social fabric and the ultimate threat of cycles of destruction.

Christie’s is thrilled to be offering two works from Ahmed Maters’ most representative series following the artist’s first mid-career retrospective Ahmed Mater: Chronicles held at Christie’s London in summer 2024.