Adelita Husni-Bey Offers Psychotherapy Sessions at Venice Biennale

The exhibition "When Solidarity Is Not a Metaphor" is currently on display at the Navy Officers' Club in the Arsenale and will run until April 21, 2024, in conjunction with the 60th Venice Biennale. Curated by Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez and organized by Alserkal Initiatives alongside the Cité internationale des arts, the showcase includes contributions from artists such as Majd Abdel Hamid, Yana Bachynska, and Rehaf Al Batniji, among others. Notably, Italian-Libyan artist Adelita Husni-Bey (born 1985 in Milan) presents her installation "Encounters of Pain" (2018–2021), influenced by Paulo Freire. During the Biennale's opening days, she offers 20-minute psychotherapy sessions, utilizing a medical couch and questionnaire to explore the connections between physical pain and emotional distress. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of care and generosity as active practices.