Nabil Nahas Represents Lebanon at 2026 Venice Biennale with Immersive Installation

Artist Nabil Nahas will represent Lebanon at the 61st Venice Biennale, running from 9 May to 22 November 2026, with a monumental installation titled 'Don’t Get Me Wrong' in the Arsenale. The work consists of 45 meters of 26 panels, each nearly 3 meters high, forming a continuous frieze designed as an immersive environment rather than a linear sequence. Nahas describes his process as following nature's logic across scales, from microscopic to cosmic, and notes the installation brings together multiple styles he has developed over his career, creating a 'living system' that reflects on his own practice. He relates the work to the Biennale theme 'In Minor Keys,' emphasizing a shift toward subtlety and perceptual engagement. Nahas, who has lived in the United States for 55 years but maintains deep ties to Lebanon, created the installation in his studio in Ain Aar, Lebanon. He views the Biennale as a rare space outside commercial frameworks where artists can take risks, and sees national pavilions as sites of both identity and coexistence amid rising nationalism. The interview was part of ArtReview's questionnaire series for national pavilion participants, supported by Versace.