The UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Drawing upon extensive historical research, Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al-Qasimi, curator for the National Pavilion United Arab Emirates la Biennale di Venezia and President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, will present a diverse assemblage of work by key figures in the country’s art history.

Commissioned by the Foundation, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, the exhibition will present a selection of works from different decades highlighting the emergence of art practices in the UAE. The exhibition is built upon extensive research involving archives of newspaper articles, artists’ writings, and catalogues, as well as interviews with artists and cultural practitioners. Reflecting personal and geopolitical trajectories, the research focuses on the underexposed historical record and evolving practices of some of the UAE’s most important modernist and contemporary artists.

A publication including previous writings and articles on the art scene in the UAE since the 1980s, as well as some personal memoirs from a number of artists will be presented alongside the exhibition. The 56th Venice Biennale runs from 9 May–22 November 2015, with a preview from 5 May–8 May. Further details about the pavilion and the artists involved will soon be announced.