The UAE whispers into Venice: 'Washwasha' to represent the Emirates at the 61st Biennale

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."