The 61st Venice Biennale, set to open on Saturday, will welcome Syria’s post-war return to the fair and the UAE’s feature exhibition: Washwasha (‘Whispering’ in Arabic).
This year’s theme, “In Minor Keys,” curated by Koyo Kouoh, invites participants to explore emotional depth and relatability amid the backdrop of contemporary global challenges.
The focus on subtler, introspective expressions reflects the resilience and cultural heritage of regions frequently marked by conflict using soundscapes.
Syria’s Return, Palmyra in Focus
Syria’s return to the Venice Biennale comes with The Tower Tomb of Palmyra, an immersive step inside the lost funerary architecture of the ancient city of Palmyra.
Sara Shamma, alongside curator Yuko Hasegawa, creates a spatial reconstruction of these tower tombs. Palmyra suffered extensive architectural damage during the civil war, many damaged by Daesh during the civil war, alongside hundreds of Fayum mummy portraits that were looted.
UAE tycoon, Mohamed Alabbar, CEO of Emaar Properties, visited the country earlier this week stopping in some of Syria’s historic cities, such as Latakia, as Syria eyes Emirati and Qatari capital in post-war reconstruction efforts.
Before the civil war, Emaar started construction on Eight Gate: one of Syria’s biggest property projects, in the Yafour area, west of Damascus.
Construction began earlier this year on a new terminal at Damascus Airport, part of multi-billion-dollar contracts awarded to Qatar’s UCC Holding, headed by the Syrian businessman Samer Al Khayyat. The construction is being carried out by Turkish companies Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat.
UAE Pavilion, Sonic Landscapes
In the GCC, the UAE pavilion, curated by Tala Nassar and titled “Washwasha,” presents a collective exploration of the region’s evolving sonic landscape, featuring contributions from six artists who delve into the intersection of oral histories and social change.
This multifaceted examination reflects ongoing societal transformations within the Gulf, particularly in light of shifting demographics and cultural influences, from the land to the sea.
Artists Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva feature in the exhibition, contemplating contemporary soundscapes in the UAE.
Each soundscape is shaped by migration, transience, and long-term ties to the land.
As the Biennale gets underway, the anticipation surrounding these presentations underscores a significant moment for artistic expression within the region, celebrating the rich cultural narratives across the MENA despite historical challenges.
Syria’s return to the cultural scene and the UAE’s embrace of soundscapes is a subtle reminder of the different forms of resilience societies are taking in times of (post-)war.
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