55. Biennale – Padiglione Kuwait

National Works è il progetto che rappresenta il Kuwait alla Biennale di Venezia.

Comunicato stampa

This is Kuwait's first Pavilion at the 55. International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition National Works explores two major works by sculptor Sami Mohammad (b. 1943) along with a new photographic production by Tarek Al-Ghoussein (b. 1962). Curated by Ala Younis it disassembles symbols of grandeur in paused/post glorious times, in an attempt to re-interpret Kuwait's modernization project.
In the year of its political independence, Kuwait welcomed its new-found prosperity by declaring a willingness to share its future wealth with its neighbours. The time was directed to institutional building in preparation for and accommodation of a growing influx of investments. The country's urban landscape soon became an open-air museum of national and international performances of construction, creation and political manifestation. In a metamorphosis similar to that of the country, self-taught artists were engaged in developing state institutions, while the state was providing them with training scholarships and annual stipends.