Parasol Unit Foundation Celebrates 15 Years with Venice Exhibition

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Parasol Unit Foundation, a nonprofit established in London by art historian Ziba Ardalan in 2004, is hosting its inaugural international exhibition at the 2019 Biennale Arte in Venice. Titled 'The Spark Is You,' the event is set in Palazzo Pisani, an 18th-century structure that now accommodates the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory. Initially located in a refurbished two-story warehouse designed by Italian architect Claudio Silvestrin, the foundation has emerged as a significant entity in the UK art landscape, providing free entry and backing artists like Rana Begum, Michaël Borremans, Julian Charrière, and Yang Fudong. This exhibition showcases nine Iranian artists, including Morteza Ahmadvand and Nazgol Ansarinia, whose works bridge Eastern and Western influences, drawing from Goethe's 1819 'West–Eastern Divan.' Highlights include Ansarinia's 'Article 44, Pillars' and Navid Nuur's 'The Turner,' a large installation featuring pen-testing slips globally. Each year, the foundation curates three to four exhibitions, along with the Parasolstice – Winter Light series and Parasol Public installations, funded mainly by an endowment, supplemented by private donations and sales.