We are pleased to share Pratchaya Phinthong and Wael Shawky's participation in Sharjah Biennial 16: to carry (Feb 6 – June 15, 2025).
Pratchaya Phinthong presents newly commissioned work, We are lived by powers we pretend to understand (2024), which transforms the visual code of solar panels into granite sculptures installed in public spaces, while experimenting with coral integration to explore marine life restoration. This collaborative project with scientists, divers, and environmental activists in the UAE and Thailand marks the beginning of a long-term ecological initiative. Through this work, Phinthong had the honour of winning the Sharjah Biennial Prize.
Wael Shawky’s I Am Hymns of the New Temples (2023) portrays Pompeii as a "theater of narratives," where performers in ancient textiles and ceramic masks reimagine sacred processions and initiation rituals through a tableau vivant-like performance.
Sharjah Biennial 16: to carry
Feb 6 – June 15, 2025
Venue: Sharjah City, Al Hamriyah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Al Madam and other locations across the Emirate of Sharjah
Curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz
