Saudi Students Revive Internet Cafe Culture at Dhahran Exhibition
Dhahran – A three-day “Internet Cafe” exhibition hosted by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran concluded on Friday, offering visitors a nostalgic journey into the era of internet cafes, which were popular social spaces in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Organized by student groups Diwan and Estiraha in collaboration with KFUPM Student Affairs, the exhibition recreated the experience of these cafes where visitors once paid to check emails, browse the web, and connect socially, while blending history with contemporary art and technology.
Although the initiative was led by Gen Z students in their early 20s, including Diwan founder Fajer Al-Mindeel and creative director Wateen Al-Zahrani, the exhibition attracted visitors of all ages, allowing both younger attendees and alumni to engage with a piece of digital history.
Al-Mindeel explained that the inspiration for the event came from spending time on campus and learning about the stories behind the university’s buildings, prompting the team to recreate an experience that honored the cultural and technological past of KFUPM.
KFUPM, founded in 1963 as an all-boys school, has recently begun enrolling women, and several female students featured in the exhibition are among the first graduating class, highlighting both the evolving inclusivity and rich heritage of the university.
Al-Zahrani noted, “One of the most rewarding aspects of organizing the exhibition was reconnecting with alumni who have deep ties to the university, retrieving personal archives, and incorporating their memories into the installations, which created a meaningful and immersive experience for all visitors.”
The students specifically chose Building 10 to host the event, a space that historically served as a cultural hub for performances and movie nights in the 1980s and ’90s but had recently been limited to academic functions, allowing the exhibition to revive the building’s original communal spirit.
Al-Mindeel added, “The venue has historical significance, including hosting a speech by Queen Elizabeth II, and we wanted to combine that heritage with a modern exploration of digital culture and technology, creating a bridge between past and present.”
The exhibition featured works by 14 artists, both Saudi and international, including Mohammad Al-Faraj, Basmah Felemban, Sarah Abu Abdullah, Asaad Badawi, Ally Yanxiu Liu, Abdulelah Quttub, Fai Ahmed, Rama Saputra, Sumayah Fallatah, Dalal Madhi, Hamdan Ahmed, Khaled Makhshoush, and Studio Bin Hattan, whose creations either were commissioned specifically for the event or developed in recent years.
The installations included 12 archive computers from the university, historical books from the library, contemporary artworks, and immersive sound design, with potted plants and interactive elements enhancing the atmosphere and encouraging visitors to reflect on their evolving relationship with technology.
Al-Mindeel highlighted that some of the works explored important contemporary issues, such as environmental impact, showing how daily interactions with technology, including AI platforms, have consequences that are often overlooked but increasingly relevant in modern society.
Student Jood Alshikhi shared her perspective, saying, “The exhibition’s strength was in how it intertwined past and present, beginning with memories of early encounters with computers and transitioning into a modern, art-focused digital world, illustrating how our use of technology has transformed from shared social moments to personalized, creative experiences.”
Visitors left with a sense of both nostalgia and awareness, seeing firsthand how early internet culture has influenced current digital habits, while experiencing a dynamic space that combined historical artifacts, artistic expression, and interactive technology to engage multiple generations.
The event successfully celebrated KFUPM’s history and student creativity, demonstrating how younger generations can honor the past while innovatively interpreting technology’s role in society, fostering community connection, and reviving cultural traditions on campus.
