Doha, Qatar: The National Pavilion of Qatar at the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy, announced today, April 13, 2026, details of its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, to be held next month.
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 decades-long practice of inviting collaborators to activate his architectural and spatial scenarios.
Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani said, "On the global stage of the Venice Biennale, this exhibition demonstrates Qatar's unwavering belief in the power of culture to bring people together and to create space for reflection, connection, and affirmation of our shared humanity. Qatar is proud to provide a platform for the creative talent of our nation and the Arab world. Together, these artists and their work highlight the importance of resilience in a complicated time, empowering communities, inspiring generations, and strengthening our combined heritage."
For the 61st International Art Exhibition, Rirkrit Tiravanija has designed a tent-like structure to serve as a place for cultural exchange, with a film by Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria, live performances organized by Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui, a large-scale sculpture by Kuwaiti-Puerto Rican artist Alia Farid, and a culinary program of Middle Eastern cuisine designed by Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan.
Produced by Qatar Museums and presented by Rubaiya Qatar (Qatar's contemporary art quadrennial), a gathering of remarkable people is co-curated by Executive Director, Center for Curatorial Studies and the Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College Tom Eccles and Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA PS1) 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 said, "We are proud that a gathering of remarkable people builds upon the presentation of Rirkrit Tiravanija's work in Doha, as part of Rubaiya Qatar. The engaging, participatory nature of this new, expansive work, including its desire to nourish both the spirit and the body, will be carried forward by the outstanding artistic collaborators who will bring the exhibition to life in Venice. By including artists, musicians, poets, and chefs, the exhibition proves that culture is the indelible link between us all. Bringing people together at this moment is more important than ever. In fact, it is essential."
For his part, Rirkrit Tiravanija said, "I feel honored to work with Qatar Museums, the Rubaiya Qatar team, and all the artists who will be contributing to this experience in Venice. Sophia Al-Maria, Tarek Atoui, Alia Farid and Fadi Kattan represent different aspects of Arab culture, which will be united at the Qatar Pavilion to show how we all can come together."
Among the most prominent artworks and interactive experiences to be presented is an experimental narrative film by Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria, in which her protagonist goes on a dream-like journey that delves into the transformative possibilities of music and sound. Also featured is "Jerrican", a large-scale sculpture by Alia Farid from her series of larger-than-life vessels used to store and carry water in the Gulf.
Participating artworks also include improvisational collaborations arranged by Tarek Atoui with musicians and poets, responding to field recordings, archival sources, and other sonic elements from across the Arab world, as well as a culinary program designed by Fadi Kattan, which highlights chefs from the MENA region whose cuisine sits at the intersection of preservation and innovation, with menus often centered on a single ingredient to trace the cross-cultural impact of migration and trade.
