Oman’s Venice Installation
- Haitham Al Busafi will represent Oman at the 2026 Venice Biennale with a site-specific installation. (artasiapacific.com) - ArtAsiaPacific describes the piece as combining sand, metal, and sound in a sensory installation for the pavilion. (artasiapacific.com) - National pavilion projects like this one are rolling out amid the Biennale’s tense political and curatorial moment. (cnn.com)
Oman has picked Haitham Al Busafi to represent the country at the 2026 Venice Biennale with a new installation called “Zinah.” (artasiapacific.com) The 61st International Art Exhibition opens on May 9, 2026 and runs through November 22, with 100 national participations and 31 collateral events, according to La Biennale di Venezia. (labiennale.org) Al Busafi is an artist, architect and curator, and Oman said he will also curate its pavilion. The project is commissioned by Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and will be installed in the Arsenale Artiglierie. (artasiapacific.com) (arabnews.com) The work uses sand, suspended metal and sound to build what organizers describe as a participatory environment. Arab News reported that the installation draws on the Omani tradition of silver horse adornment known as Al-zaanah. (artasiapacific.com) (arabnews.com) Oman’s pavilion is arriving as this Biennale takes shape under curator Koyo Kouoh’s theme, “In Minor Keys.” Oman Observer said Al Busafi framed the presentation as a way to bring Omani culture into a show centered on quieter, lower-frequency forms of expression. (labiennale.org) (omanobserver.om) National pavilions are a core part of Venice’s structure: countries mount separate exhibitions alongside the main international show, turning the Biennale into a mix of art presentation and cultural diplomacy. Oman’s culture ministry called its participation part of a broader effort to expand the country’s international cultural presence. (labiennale.org) (canvasonline.com) That rollout is happening during a strained edition for some other national presentations. CNN reported on April 23 that the United States pavilion faced delays, procedural changes and scrutiny over its selection process before confirming a show by sculptor Alma Allen with curator Jeffrey Uslip. (kvia.com) For Oman, the announcement puts a specific artist and a finished concept on the board before opening day. The next test is how “Zinah” lands in Venice when the Biennale opens on May 9. (artasiapacific.com) (labiennale.org)
