Digital Aesthetics and Post-Internet Art: Transformations of the Saudi Art Scene between Global Discourse and Local Narrative

This research investigates the evolution of artistic practices in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the impact of digital infrastructures and "post-Internet" aesthetics. Addressing the challenges within the Kingdom's 2030 Vision for cultural transformation, the study examines how digital technologies are reshaping art production and exhibition. The core problem lies in understanding Saudi artists' engagement with the global digital landscape while preserving their connection to Arab and Islamic cultural traditions. The research clarifies the dynamic interplay between global digital art discourse and local storytelling, exploring how artists utilize new technologies and addressing challenges like digital archiving, virtual exhibition sustainability, and technological access disparities. Drawing on theories from Lev Manovich, Christiane Paul, and Gene McHugh, and qualitative analytical methodology, the study reveals a growing integration of digital practices, including interactive technologies intertwined with themes of identity and memory. Ultimately, this research concludes that digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping the Saudi art scene, offering significant cultural and intellectual potential, and recommends sustainable digital infrastructure development, artist training, and open archiving initiatives to ensure broader participation.