Biennale di Venezia 2026 | Arsenale: In Minor Keys | Artist: Khaled Sabsabi | Title: khalil
Warm arms welcoming the viewer into its core, protected, cared for, visually stunning multimedia installation, just like its title, ‘khalil’ or ‘close friend’. Drawing the public into a safe space, after having experienced displacement, marginalization, racism, and silencing, is a wonderfully positive gift from the artist. When experiencing loss, create beauty. When given conflict, create beauty. When confronted by hate, create beauty.
Rightfully so, this immersive “experience of object, video, scent and sound,” is ever changing, morphing between layered images, receding and advancing colors, mesmerizing and calming. The scale is captivating. The impact is to be discovered, later, when meditating about the piece.
Not unlike our world, and its ever changing human conditions and relationships, there is no final solution. Complexity is to be lived and experienced. But as this piece so eloquently demonstrates, change and uncertainty does not have to be cause for concern, it can and should be beautiful.
by John C Clements
Think Art Magazine
In association with Arroscia Residency
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