UAE Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2026 Explores "Washwasha"

May 14, 2026

85 min

May 14, 2026 13:31

Exclusive: Washwasha: When meaning moves at low volume

## Exploring "Washwasha"

The UAE Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Bana Kattan and Tala Nassar, delves into the concept of "Washwasha," an Arabic term for whispering. This exhibition examines whispering not as a mere atmospheric element but as a way of understanding where meaning is incomplete and shaped by interference and competing voices.

## Artists and Themes

The pavilion features works by artists such as Lamya Gargash, Farah Al Qasimi, Jawad Al Malhi, Mays Albaik, Alaa Edris, and Taus Makhacheva. These artists explore the instability of language, where speech and narration resist closure. Their works coexist without converging, emphasizing the power of subtle shifts and the impact of quiet voices.

## Conceptual Ground

Lamya Gargash highlights the significance of paying attention to subtle changes, suggesting that whispers can be more impactful than loud noises. Her work focuses on oral transmission, emphasizing voice as a means of continuity rather than fixed inscription.

## Attention and Complexity

Farah Al Qasimi addresses the compression of attention in modern society, where complex ideas are often reduced to sound bites. She hopes the pavilion offers a space for visitors to slow down and truly listen, challenging the norm of immediate consumption.

## Unstable Mediums

Jawad Al Malhi and Lamya Gargash explore oral histories and social spaces as mediums of listening and interaction. Mays Albaik and Alaa Edris push language into material forms and systemic interference, creating works that resist stable communication and narrative development.

## Venice as a Resonant Environment

The exhibition aligns with Venice's own layered history and persistent echoes. "Washwasha" inhabits this resonant environment, leaving visitors with a condition where meaning accrues over time, challenging the need for clarity and certainty in interpretation.

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