Larissa Sansour's 'Heirloom' to Represent Denmark at 2019 Venice Biennale

Danish-Palestinian artist Larissa Sansour will represent Denmark at the 2019 Venice Biennale with her exhibition 'Heirloom' in the Giardini. The presentation explores nation-building after climate disaster and essentialism in identity formation through a two-channel film, sculptural installation, and architectural intervention. The film features a conversation between a senior scientist and her successor in a bunker hospital beneath Bethlehem, addressing inherited trauma, historical narratives, and collective memory. Sansour considers representing her country both an honor and a responsibility, noting the transnational relevance of her work despite its Middle Eastern political context. She views the Venice Biennale as vital for promoting Denmark's local art scene, recalling her first visit in 2003 when the city transformed into an immersive exhibition. The biennale runs from May 11 to November 24, 2019.