Parasol Unit returns with a showcase of women from Central Asia and beyond

"Without the limits of a single location [as we had in London], we are well positioned to bring world-class exhibitions to wherever an art-related dialogue is needed most. I wanted to focus the importance of the East-West link, at the time in which the East has established itself as a huge force in every aspect: presenting this exhibition in Venice is a must."

"The exhibition spans multiple genres, from video work by Lida Abdul, Hera Büyüktasçıyan, Daria Kim and Tala Madani; installations by Afruz Amighi, Saodat Ismailova and Nazira Karimi; sculpture by Huma Bhabha and Mona Hatoum; painting, video and spoken word by Farideh Lashai; and textile and sound work by Madina Joldybek."

"The title of the exhibition is inspired by the Turandot narrative- Turandokht in Farsi means daughter of Turan-and the show is in turn inspired by the historical relationship between Iran and Turan, a nomadic region in Central Asia. The story is best known now from the Puccini opera but it was originally adapted for the stage by the Venetian playwright Carlo Gozzi, premiering in 1762 in the now-demolished Teatro San Samuele, which stood just a few streets away from the Parasol Unit exhibition."

"There are some remarkable artists within this region, which I think we ought to know better. says Ardalan, who is herself of Iranian origin. The exhibition features 11 female artists from Central Asia and surrounding regions, and is curated by Ziba Ardalan, the founder of Parasol Unit."

Parasol Unit, a London non-profit exhibition space that closed in 2020, has reopened and launched Turandot: To the Daughters of the East as an official collateral event during the Biennale. The exhibition is curated by Ziba Ardalan and presented in the historic Palazzo Franchetti for the full Biennale period. It features 11 female artists from Central Asia and nearby regions, working across video, installation, sculpture, painting, spoken word, textile, and sound. The title draws on the Turandot narrative, linking Turandokht, meaning daughter of Turan, to the historical relationship between Iran and Turan. The show also connects to Venice’s theatrical history through Carlo Gozzi’s 1762 adaptation.

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