The Pavilion of Iraq at the 54th Venice Biennale will feature six internationally-known contemporary Iraqi artists in their exhibition “Wounded Water”. Chosen from two separate generations, all have achieved artistic greatness through working in and outside of their country. The first generation, Ali Assaf, Azad Nanakelli, and Walid Siti, transitioned into maturity in the 1970s during the creation of political socialism in Iraq. The second generation, Adel Abidin, Ahmed Alsoudani, and Halim Al Karim evolved during the volatile p... Read more

The Pavilion of Iraq at the 54th Venice Biennale will feature six internationally-known contemporary Iraqi artists in their exhibition “Wounded Water”. Chosen from two separate generations, all have achieved artistic greatness through working in and outside of their country.

The first generation, Ali Assaf, Azad Nanakelli, and Walid Siti, transitioned into maturity in the 1970s during the creation of political socialism in Iraq. The second generation, Adel Abidin, Ahmed Alsoudani, and Halim Al Karim evolved during the volatile period of the Iran-Iraq war. Subsequently, they left the country before the 2003 invasion and settled in the United States and Europe.

All six artists have a sophisticated and globalized approach based on the international scope of Iraqi events. Works will be executed on site based on the thematic choice of water, appositely selected considering the current emergency of water diminishment in Iraq.

Architect Zaha Hadid is honorary patron