Isabel Nolan's Aphantasia Shapes Her Creative Process for Venice Biennale

Irish artist Isabel Nolan, who has aphantasia (inability to visualize), presents 'Dreamshook' at the Irish Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, opening May 9. The exhibition explores the tension between imagination and reality, centering on 15th-century printer Aldo Manuzio, who invented the portable book. Nolan's research-driven practice draws on late medieval art, including the Book of Kells, and early Renaissance masters like Giotto and Fra Angelico. Her condition, formally named in 2015 by neurologist Adam Zeman, leads her to externalize ideas through drawing, archiving, and creating works that store memory. The exhibition features hand-tufted tapestries, sculptures, and drawings that distill complex ideas into accessible forms.