Shirin Neshat: Do You Dare!
Shirin Neshat explores the fractured identity of the exiled female gaze through a cinematic trilogy set in New York.
Meet the artist
ArtLovers Tip
Look closely at the subtle parallels Neshat draws between the aesthetics of early internet culture and traditional poetic imagery; she often hides small visual cues that bridge the gap between Aghdam’s viral world and Iranian heritage.
Exhibition Highlights - What you'll see
Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat returns to Venice with a poignant investigation into the life of Nasim Aghdam, an artist whose digital performances became a desperate cry for visibility. Moving between the landscapes of New York and the memories of a lost homeland, this trilogy traces the delicate threads connecting two women who share the burden of the outsider's gaze. Neshat’s lens captures the friction between the spectacle of American media and the internal silence of displacement, transforming a tragic biography into a universal meditation on rebellion and censorship.
You're watching three distinct films unfold within the historical resonance of Palazzo Marin, where the shadows of the Venetian architecture meet the stark socioeconomic contrasts of modern New York. The scale of the projections invites a quiet confrontation with the faces on screen, their expressions flickering between defiance and deep isolation. As you move through the rooms, the soundscapes of the city mingle with the weight of the stories told, creating an environment where the boundary between the viewer's world and the artist's imaginative reality begins to dissolve.
Worth the trip
- Venice Biennale context: Experience this world premiere during the peak of the 2026 Biennale, where Neshat—a former Golden Lion winner—contributes a vital voice to the city's global dialogue.
- Palazzo Marin setting: See how the contemporary tension of the film trilogy interacts with the 16th-century elegance of a Venetian palace, grounding modern exile in historical permanence.
- Unpublished film trilogy: Witness the first screening of a major new body of work that synthesizes Neshat's career-long exploration of poetry, politics, and the Iranian female perspective.
How to experience it
Allow yourself ample time to sit through all three films; the cumulative effect of the trilogy relies on the rhythmic transition between different New York settings. Move slowly through the Palazzo, letting the contrast between the ornate interiors and the screen's digital intensity settle. Afterward, walk toward the Grand Canal to process the themes of visibility and isolation against the city's own layers of facade and reflection.
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