Khaled Sabsabi-who had his Australia Pavilion cancelled and reinstated-will also exhibit in main Venice Biennale show

"Sabsabi's double appearance in Venice is 'a major historic first for an Australian artist'. The artist's Australia Pavilion work is titled conference of one's self, and is underpinned by the Persian poet and Sufi theoretician Farid al-Din Attar's Tasawwuf allegory, The Conference of the Birds (1177), about the journey to spiritual enlightenment."

"Sabsabi tells The Art Newspaper that his works for the Australia Pavilion and In Minor Keys are separate but related, and draw on his devotion to Tasawwuf, or Sufism. '(Tasawwuf) is the so-called mystical branch of Islam,' Sabsabi says. The title of Sabsabi's work for the exhibition In Minor Keys has not yet been released and further details about both works remain confidential for now."

"Sabsabi and his curator Michael Dagostino, the director of Sydney University's Chau Chak Wing Museum and Seymour Centre, say they had been buoyed throughout their ordeals by the support of the arts community. 'For us, it's always been about the work,' Sabsabi says, emphasizing their focus remained on artistic merit despite political challenges."

Khaled Sabsabi, a Lebanese-born Sydney artist, faced significant political turmoil before being appointed to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale. Initially appointed in February 2025, he was removed six days later but reappointed in July. Sabsabi will exhibit in both the Australia Pavilion and the main Biennale exhibition titled In Minor Keys, curated by Koyo Kouoh. His works draw from Sufism and Tasawwuf, the mystical branch of Islam. The Australia Pavilion piece, titled conference of one's self, references Persian poet Farid al-Din Attar's spiritual allegory The Conference of the Birds. Both works are designed to resonate with visitors regardless of viewing duration.

Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events