The Fifth Pyramid

Rashed AlShashai’s The Fifth Pyramid (2024) is a sculptural artwork that explores Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving creative industries through the idea of a deconstructed pyramid. The newly commissioned iteration of an ongoing series repurposes materials of a previously oil-based economy, symbolizing Riyadh’s ongoing transformation into a capital of the arts, culture and innovation.

Visitors are welcomed by a large pyramid structure composed of green petrochemical shipping pallets. Unlike the ancient monuments known to us, AlShashai’s pyramid is split down the middle to reveal a bright fuchsia path illuminating the way to a promising future. The striking color draws attention to the courage needed to effect bold changes.

By dissecting a traditional symbol of stability, the installation invites the audience to contemplate how existing frameworks in the Kingdom are being reformed to make way for a new economy founded on knowledge and sustainability