Six artists explore sound, migration and identity in a pavilion that opens to the public on 9 May.
Sound, memory and identity
The United Arab Emirates will make its mark at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia with Washwasha, a phonetic transliteration of the Arabic word for « whispering », an exhibition that places sound, memory and identity at the heart of the UAE's national pavilion.
Opening to the public on 9 May, with the Biennale running from 6 May to 22 November 2026, the exhibition is curated by Bana Kattan, Associate Head of Exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, and Assistant Curator Tala Nassar.
Washwasha brings together six artists, Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash and Taus Makhacheva, whose practices explore the contemporary soundscapes of the UAE, shaped by migration, transience and long-term ties to the land.
From oral storytelling to poetry circles and local broadcasting traditions, the exhibition positions sound as a platform for collective self-representation and cultural transmission.
"The selection of artists and curators this year embodies the UAE's unique demographic and cultural diversity," said Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE. The pavilion, she emphasised, goes beyond a traditional artistic display to become "a platform that reflects the vibrancy of Emirati society."
The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave OPEC was a sovereign choice driven by production strategy, not politics, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei insisted Saturday in a post on X.
The United Arab Emirates is moving decisively to reduce its vulnerability to Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Abu Dhabi ordering the acceleration of a new pipeline project that would allow hydrocarbon exports to bypass the strategic - and currently disrupted - waterway.
DP World Chairman Essa Kazim met with Syria's General Authority for Borders and Customs chief Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi to review progress on the Port of Tartous development, a flagship $800 million project that is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Syria's economic recovery.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
