Kingdom of Sand and Cement: The Shifting Cultural Landscape of Saudi Arabia - Hardcover

by Peter Bogaczewicz (Author), Rodrigo Orrantia (Contribution by), Karen Elliott House (Contribution by)

Kingdom of Sand and Cement by Peter Bogaczewicz explores the challenges Saudi Arabia faces today as it rapidly transforms from a conservative and tribal desert culture to an influential world power. In less than a century the Saudis have experienced profound change as they transitioned from living in traditional mud buildings to commencing work on the world's tallest skyscraper. Examining this legacy through large-format color photographs, Peter Bogaczewicz documents a country of sharp contrasts where visual traces of an old reticent society can be seen in the midst of a burgeoning modern culture reflecting the ambitious agenda of the new King and his charismatic son and successor, the Crown Prince, a decisive risk-taker whose bold policies have received a warm welcome by some, yet have alienated others.

Author Biography

Peter Bogaczewicz is a photographer and an architect. He divides his time between the two disciplines, often blurring the line between them, and uses his photography as a commentary on the built environment and the human community, and how both are changing at a time of rapid progress and increasing global interconnectedness. Peter is based in Toronto, Canada and is currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.