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  • Art
  • Spring/Summer 2026
  • May

A Gathering of Creative Excellence

Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Qatar Temporary Structure celebrates evolving Arabic culture at the 2026 Venice Biennale

  • Art
  • Spring/Summer 2026
  • May

A Gathering of Creative Excellence

Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Qatar Pavilion celebrates evolving Arabic culture at the 2026 Venice Biennale

The 61st edition of the Venice Art Biennale – which started on 9 May 2026 – saw the opening of artist Rirkrit Tiravanija’s tent-like structure  in the Giardini. Tiravanija’s temporary structure is located on the future site of the permanent Qatar Pavilion, designed by Lina Ghotmeh Architecture.

The project, untitled 2026 (a gathering of remarkable people), is a collaboration between Tiravanija, filmmaker Sophia Al-Maria, sound artist Tarek Atoui, artist Alia Farid and chef Fadi Kattan. Over the course of the Biennale’s opening week, it brought together artists, musicians, poets and chefs from across the world to discuss issues of migration, exchange and evolution. Exploring the ever-changing nature of Arab culture, the exhibition facilitates both critical insight and the joy of shared experiences.

untitled 2026 (a gathering of remarkable people) was commissioned by Her Excellency Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and co-curated by Tom Eccles and Ruba Katrib. The exhibition was produced by Qatar Museums and presented by Rubaiya Qatar, Qatar’s contemporary art quadrennial.

Photographers Hannah Goldsmith and Riccardo Dell'Acqua captured moments as they unfolded during the pavilion’s opening week.

A crowd of people stands under a modern red pavilion with geometric patterned walls, partially sheltered by leafy green trees, on a cloudy day.
Located on the future site of the permanent national pavilion, Qatar’s presentation at the 2026 Biennale occupies a temporary pavilion designed by the Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith
A group of people sit and play music inside a pavilion with pink geometric structures. The scene is viewed through a patterned pink screen, with trees visible in the background.
Tiravanija’s structure draws on traditional Qatari architecture, referencing mashrabiya patterns to create a gathering space that hosted numerous activations over the course of the week. Photo: Riccardo Dell'Acqua
A person in a leather jacket uses small percussion instruments and electronic music equipment on a table, including bowls, mallets, and a MIDI controller.
A man wearing glasses and a chain necklace plays a brass horn instrument into a microphone, with musicians and instruments blurred in the background under a red canopy.

Musicians performing as part of a programme organised by Lebanese sound artist Tarek Atoui. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

Musicians perform under a red pavilion with patterned floor tiles as an audience watches. Some people sit, while others stand. Musical equipment and instruments are scattered around the performers. Green trees are visible outside.
Atoui (right) watching a live performance. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith
A man with glasses and a beard speaks passionately in front of a microphone at a busy indoor event, gesturing with his hands; other people are visible in the background at tables.

Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan delivered a culinary program celebrating chefs from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

A hand reaching for a small bowl filled with a creamy dish topped with shredded meat and chopped chives, alongside several similar bowls on a tray.
Three plates of dates are arranged on a patterned red surface. The dates are partially coated in white chocolate or glaze, with some sprinkled with sesame seeds or other toppings.

The dishes created as part of Kattan’s programme traced the cross-cultural impact of migration and trade in the MENA region. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

A variety of assorted objects scattered on a dark surface, including musical mallets, toy figures, utensils, a rubber chicken, metallic dishes, foil, chains, and various tools and gadgets.

A collection of objects featured in untitled 2026 (a gathering of remarkable people). Photo: Riccardo Dell'Acqua

A large, translucent sculpture shaped like a plastic jerry can stands on patterned red tiles. The can is embossed with the words “Lovely Gift From Blessed Land.” People gather in the background under a red canopy.
Close-up view of a built-in recessed shower shelf with smooth, beige surfaces and rounded edges, set within a shower or bathroom wall. The shelf appears empty and clean.
Kuwaiti-Puerto Rican artist Alia Farid’s sculpture Jerrican, 2026. The fibreglass work is based on the water containers commonly used across the Gulf. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith
People sit on a patterned floor inside a covered pavilion, watching a large screen displaying a black-and-white image of a person speaking and pointing. Trees and outdoor scenery are visible through the open pavilion walls.

Attendees watching DAMAR TV(2026), an experimental narrative film created by the Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria. The film features Lebanese actress Yumna Marwan (pictured). Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

A person sits by the water, holding an open magazine that reads, How can art reflect a changing Qatar? In the background are historic buildings and a distant bell tower across the water.

The Spring/Summer edition of Q+A magazine was published to coincide with the opening of the Biennale. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

A man in a pinstripe suit holds a large white folder labeled Q+A: Doha and Arts with text in English and Arabic. Only the mans arm, torso, and part of his face are visible.
A woman wearing a navy hijab, glasses, and a dark pleated outfit sits on a patterned bench, reading a booklet. She has a lanyard around her neck and a patterned bag over her shoulder.

Q+A is an exploration of the power of culture, covering art, design, fashion and heritage. This issue marks two decades of Qatar Museums. Photo: Hannah Goldsmith

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Harbour Master

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