Studio Orta

The Royal Limoges porcelain edition was commissioned by the 2024 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale for the 46th activation of Lucy + Jorge Orta's project '70 x 7 The Meal'. The meal took form of a sohour gathering 300 guests for a performative dining experience within the biennale exhibition, overlooking Wadi Hanifah—a seasonal river valley that threads through the landscape of Diriyah.

The tables were adorned with two artworks–the porcelain dining service and forty table centre prieces–that draw from the cultural and ecological context of the valley. Together, they celebrate its fertilty and historic position along the pilgrim caravan route leading to the garden city of Riyadh.

The design of the Royal Limoges porcelain plate features a grid-like structure referencing systems of scientific data collection and the octagonal layout of the city of Riyadh. Superimposed upon this framework are delicate drawings of Wadi Hanifah’s native species. On the left of the composition, a topographic map of the valley is encircled by the Arabic and vernacular names of edible plants—linking the botanical, linguistic, and cultural dimensions of the landscape. Facing the steady encroachment of urban expansion, the design reflects on the fragile balance between nature and development, and on the erosion of ecological diversity and traditional knowledge that once sustained desert living.