Anna Kamyshan's Floating Synagogue Nabatele Rises Over Venice Biennale
Ukrainian artist Anna Kamyshan has unveiled Nabatele, an innovative floating synagogue that hangs from a helium balloon, at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. This unique installation will be on display from July 16 to September 16, 2026, and draws inspiration from the hidden synagogues of 16th-century Venice, making them visible in the sky. The balloon can rise to 25 meters (82 feet) above the lagoon and features glowing windows that represent hope in times of uncertainty. Curated by Maria Veits and Yevgeniy Fiks, the work reflects themes of Yiddishland. After Venice, Nabatele will travel to the Montreal Jewish Museum. It adjusts to the weather, embodying a sense of movement and belonging.
Key facts
- Anna Kamyshan is a London and New York-based Ukrainian artist and architect.
- Nabatele is a floating synagogue held aloft by a helium balloon, installed at Arsenale Nord, Venice.
- It is a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
- The installation can rise up to 25 metres (82 feet) above the lagoon.
- The work is inspired by René Magritte's 1959 painting The Castle in the Pyrenees.
- Curators Maria Veits and Yevgeniy Fiks frame the piece around Yiddishland.
- Kamyshan contributed to the conceptual vision for Kyiv's Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center.
- The Montreal Jewish Museum organized the installation and will host it in North America.
- Nabatele is on view from 16 July to 16 September 2026.
- The synagogue's windows stay lit through the night.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Kamyshan
- René Magritte
- Fujiko Nakaya
- James Turrell
- Leandro Erlich
- Joshua Vides
- Carsten Höller
- Ilya Khrzhanovsky
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Arsenale Nord
- Montreal Jewish Museum
- Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center
- Haus der Kunst
- Bourse de Commerce
- ARoS Aarhus
- Grand Palais
- NGV Melbourne
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- UCCA Beijing
- Garage Museum
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- London
- New York
- Kyiv
- Moscow
- Paris
- Aarhus
- Melbourne
- Beijing