Exploring Spirituality and Shared Humanity
Khaled Sabsabi, an Australian artist of Lebanese descent, will present two significant installations at the Biennale Arte 2026. His works will be featured both in the Australia Pavilion and in the International Exhibition ‘In Minor Keys’ at the Arsenale, marking a historic first for an Australian artist.
The installation ‘conference of one’s self’ will transform the Australia Pavilion into a multisensory exploration of spirituality, migration, and shared humanity. Commissioned by Creative Australia and curated by Michael Dagostino, this exhibition will be available for viewing from 9th May to 22nd November 2026.
Within the Australia Pavilion, eight monumental canvas paintings will be arranged in an octagonal formation. Video projectors will cast dynamic imagery onto these surfaces, engaging viewers in a dialogue between painting and projection. A soundscape recorded on analogue tape will play in a 54-minute loop, immersing visitors in a rich sensory environment.
Sabsabi’s work draws inspiration from tasawwuf, or Sufi thought. He focuses on spiritual transformation through reflection and collective experience. By drawing on more than thirty-five years of artistic practice, Sabsabi continues to explore themes of identity, displacement, and belonging.
A Historic First for Australian Artists
In a groundbreaking achievement, Sabsabi will also present ‘khalil’ in the International Exhibition ‘In Minor Keys’, curated by Koyo Kouoh. This installation examines the inner self through a meditative multimedia environment. It features a floating lamp-like structure with 40 metres of painted canvas and an accompanying soundscape.
Sabsabi remarked, “‘conference of one’s self’ and ‘khalil’ are extensions of my poetic exploration of spiritual and everyday journeys shaped by commonality and difference. These installations invite audiences into a shared space of reflection, where collective emotions and experiences meet, allowing transformation.”
Michael Dagostino, the curator of the Australia Pavilion, stated, “Khaled’s work invites audiences into a space that embraces the tasawwuf sensibility that everything flows and nothing remains fixed. The Pavilion becomes a contemplative environment where painting, moving image, and sound converge.”
The Biennale Arte 2026 will run from 9th May to 22nd November, featuring diverse international artists and installations. Sabsabi’s presentations highlight the strength of contemporary Australian art on the global stage. His installations offer counterpoints to the disorder and uncertainty of contemporary times, demonstrating possibilities when cultural, linguistic, and spiritual differences are honored.
Born in Lebanon, Sabsabi arrived in Australia as a child after fleeing civil war. His personal history of migration and the complexities of belonging deeply influence his artistic practice, offering international audiences insight into his unique perspective within a global context.
His work at the Biennale also draws on the 12th-century Sufi allegory, The Conference of the Birds, by Farid al-Din Attar. This inspiration explores the idea of a collective spiritual journey. The eight-sided structure of his installation references the valleys described in Attar’s poem, symbolizing stages of transformation in tasawwuf belief. These installations suggest what might be possible when differences are embraced and celebrated.
