Photo Credit : WAM
The UAE National Pavilion has announced its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, where it will present its exhibition Washwasha from May 9 to November 22, 2026.
Curated by Bana Kattan, with Tala Nassar, the exhibition brings together six artists — Alaa Edris, Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva — whose works explore sound as a medium to capture memory, movement, and identity in the UAE.
The title Washwasha, derived from the Arabic word for “whispering,” reflects the exhibition’s focus on sound, language, and the body, while examining how oral histories and technological shifts shape cultural identity. Through immersive soundscapes, the artists highlight themes of migration, transformation, and deep-rooted connections to place.
The exhibition also traces the evolution of sound as a tool for collective expression — from traditional storytelling and poetry gatherings to modern broadcasting and digital listening cultures. It presents the UAE as a dynamic cultural space shaped by mobility, communication, and layered listening experiences across land and sea.
Alongside the exhibition, the Pavilion will release a publication featuring essays and discussions that examine sound through historical, personal, and theoretical lenses.
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi said the National Pavilion continues to play a key role in showcasing Emirati talent on a global stage, reinforcing the country’s contribution to international conversations on art, design, and architecture.
Meanwhile, Angela Migally highlighted the Pavilion’s commitment to supporting artistic research that reflects contemporary realities, while fostering dialogue and new perspectives.
Kattan described Washwasha as an artist-led project offering diverse interpretations of intangible histories, while Laila Binbrek emphasised the Pavilion’s role in preserving and presenting the UAE’s intangible heritage through contemporary art.
The UAE National Pavilion is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture. It maintains a permanent space at the Arsenale – Sale d’Armi in Venice.
