Through a series of photographs, Ahmed Mater charts the city’s origins to its more recent history over the last 5 years. It is a study of the site’s recent transformation – Makkah, until recently, embodied a unique urban tapestry, layered with histories that are stitched together by an abundance of organically rooted communities and cultures. It is a place that accommodated not only sacred structures and sites but also huge fluctuations in population during Ramadan (up to 3 million visitors a year travel to Makkah for Eid and Hajj). More recently, these sites and communities have been eradicated and are being replaced with five-star-studded high-rise developments, transforming it from an active metropolis to the world’s most exclusive, yet most visited religious tourist destination, reflective of unprecedented experimentation with architecture and its possible impact on social stratification.
About the Author
Born in 1979, grew up in Saudi Arabia. He led a young artist collective, was a founding member of Al-Miftaha Arts Village in Abha, and went on to co-founded the non-profit entity, Edge of Arabia. His work was exhibited in numerous international institutions and forms part of public and private art collections.
About the Publisher
Lars Müller Publishers is an internationally active publishing house based in Zurich, Switzerland. It came into being in 1983 as a result of the bibliophile passion of designer Lars Müller. The house has since made a worldwide name for itself with carefully-edited and designed publications on architecture, design, photography, contemporary art, and society. The publishing programme reflects Müller’s own diverse interests, documenting historical developments and contemporary phenomena by presenting compelling work in the visual arts. Lars Müller works closely with his editors and authors to produce significant publications of great independence, to the highest possible standards.
