Venice: The National Pavilion of Qatar at the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy, announced today details of its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, to be held next month.
According to Qatar News Agency, the pavilion will present the art exhibition 'untitled 2026 (a gathering of remarkable people)' featuring the works of Rirkrit Tiravanija, Sophia Al Maria, Tarek Atoui, Alia Farid, and Fadi Kattan. This exhibition builds on artist Rirkrit Tiravanija's practice of inviting collaborators to activate his architectural and spatial scenarios.
HE Chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani stated that the exhibition demonstrates Qatar's belief in culture's power to unite people and create space for reflection and connection. She emphasized that Qatar is proud to provide a platform for creative talent from the nation and the Arab world, highlighting resilience, community empowerment, and heritage.
For the 61st International Art Exhibition, Rirkrit Tiravanija has designed a tent-like structure for cultural exchange. The exhibition includes a film by Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria, live performances organized by Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui, a sculpture by Kuwaiti-Puerto Rican artist Alia Farid, and a culinary program by Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan.
Produced by Qatar Museums and presented by Rubaiya Qatar, a gathering of remarkable people is co-curated by Tom Eccles and Ruba Katrib. The exhibition will be held at the Giardini della Biennale on the site of the future permanent Qatar Pavilion designed by Lina Ghotmeh - Architecture.
Co-curators Tom Eccles and Ruba Katrib expressed pride in building upon Rirkrit Tiravanija's work as part of Rubaiya Qatar. They emphasized the participatory nature of the exhibition, which seeks to nourish the spirit and body, celebrating culture as a link between people.
Rirkrit Tiravanija expressed his honor in working with Qatar Museums and the artists contributing to the experience in Venice. He highlighted the representation of different aspects of Arab culture by artists Sophia Al-Maria, Tarek Atoui, Alia Farid, and Fadi Kattan.
Prominent artworks include an experimental narrative film by Sophia Al-Maria, exploring music and sound's transformative possibilities, and "Jerrican," a large-scale sculpture by Alia Farid. The exhibition also features improvisational collaborations by Tarek Atoui and a culinary program by Fadi Kattan, focusing on the intersection of preservation and innovation in MENA cuisine.