Amina Agueznay Discusses Moroccan Pavilion Installation for 2026 Venice Biennale

Moroccan artist Amina Agueznay will represent Morocco at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with her installation 'Asǝṭṭa' in the Arsenale. The work is a large-scale piece focusing on collaborative practices passed through generations, incorporating traditional crafts like weaving and metalsmithing. Agueznay draws inspiration from fieldwork with artisans, using elements such as silver sequins to create connections between Morocco's Middle Atlas Mountains and Venice's canals. She relates her project to the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys' by emphasizing emotional and sensory experiences, comparing collaborative creation to musical harmony. Agueznay views the Biennale as a crucial global meeting point for dialogue amid rising nationalism, describing her pavilion as creating an 'in-between' space exploring thresholds between interior and exterior. She highlights the role of Moroccan artisans as key artists preserving cultural heritage while innovating. The installation involves over a hundred artisans and a curatorial team led by Meriem Berrada. Agueznay believes art can change the world by honoring individual dignity and collective creation. The Biennale runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026.