Biennale di Venezia 2026
Pavilion: Lebanon | Artist: Nabil Nahas | Curator: Nada Ghandour |
Title: Don’t Get Me Wrong
2026.10.15
In classical Athens one can point to the Acropolis. In modern Vienna, the Secession. Joining the tradition of depicting stories, accomplishments and art as friezes, Nahas has developed 26 panels that envelop the viewer as they experience the installation. Unlike traditional friezes that tell a story, with a beginning and an end, this work invites the viewer to enter and wander, determining for himself the order of the panels.
“The symbolism of a frieze depends heavily on its historical context, but across eras, it fundamentally serves as a visual narrative of power, identity, and shared cultural values. Because a frieze is elevated above eye level and spans continuously, it naturally commands respect and draws the viewer into a chronological story.”
Nahas combines elements from Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic civilizations, symbol of continuity, fractals and motive botanicals to achieve a rich, multi-layered work of art that points to the resilience of Lebanon, Unity, the Balance between humanity, nature and the universe.
A shared cultural identity with sights toward a future full of hope, a message much needed in today’s world.
by John C. Clements
ThinkArtMagazine.com
In association with Arroscia Residency
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