Dana Awartani's Fragile Mosaic Installation to Open Saudi Pavilion at Venice Biennale
On May 9, the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia will debut at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, showcasing Dana Awartani's installation titled 'May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones.' Curated by Antonia Carver, with Hafsa Alkhudairi assisting, this work delves into ancient mosaic traditions and highlights twenty-three historically important sites throughout the Arab world. The installation spans the entire pavilion floor and features intricate patterns crafted from delicate materials, underscoring cultural legacies that have persisted for three thousand years. Over 30,000 hours of artisan labor, involving thirty-two artisans, went into creating more than 29,000 sunbaked bricks from four types of clay sourced from the Kingdom. Awartani stresses the critical need to safeguard cultural heritage.
Key facts
- The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the 61st Venice Biennale will open on 9 May with Dana Awartani's installation.
- The exhibition is curated by Antonia Carver, with Hafsa Alkhudairi as assistant curator.
- The work references twenty-three places of historical significance, including mosques, ancient palaces, a necropolis, and a caravansary.
- The installation combines mosaic references from Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.
- The bricks are made without binding agents and crack as they dry, making instability part of the work.
- The project was created over more than 30,000 artisan hours, involving thirty-two artisans.
- Awartani sourced four differently hued clay earths from across Saudi Arabia to produce over 29,000 sunbaked clay earth bricks.
- The title borrows from classical Arabic poetry.
Entities
Artists
- Dana Awartani
Institutions
- National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Visual Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture
- UNESCO
- World Monuments Fund
- ALIPH Foundation
- Pavilion of Saudi Arabia
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Saudi Arabia
- Riyadh
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- Mesopotamia
- Arab world
- Afghanistan
- South Asia
- West Asia