Weekly Newsletter
We explore the highlights from the Venice Biennale, featuring national pavilions, the ethereal creations of Shirley Tse and Dana Berman Duff, and Dean Millien’s imaginative world crafted from aluminum foil.
“After New York, Aruba,” proclaims a subway advertisement showing serene waves crashing against the rocky shore of a tropical island. This prompted me to search for Aruba’s location.
Ah, yes, Aruba is a small Caribbean island situated just 18 miles north of Venezuela, and it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, associated with the original Prince of Orange.
Recently, we’ve been discussing in the office the need to retire the term “Golden Age” when referring to the most violent periods of Dutch colonialism. What was a time of prosperity for one nation was a time of suffering for others. The Netherlands thrived on wealth that wasn’t theirs.
Our King of Orange seems preoccupied with another island, this one in the Persian Gulf, rich with oil. He anticipated a swift conflict in Iran, akin to that in Venezuela, but found himself in a prolonged stalemate in a narrow strait. He continues his attempts to outmaneuver the Iranians. It’s worth noting that the term “checkmate” originates from the Farsi words Shah Mat, meaning “the king is dead.”
Back at the office, I handled an interview by Chris Kraus with artists Shirley Tse and Dana Berman Duff. Their exhibition, filled with moons, reflects more about our own experiences. Kraus is often seen as epitomizing the “90s cool.” I once gifted her book I Love Dick to a girl, hoping she’d reciprocate my feelings. She read it and deemed me a “dick,” yet she married me nonetheless.
Venice in May holds cherished memories for me. Starting the day with a couple of espressos and a refreshing lemon soda topped with a slice of real lemon is unmatched. I shared with someone yesterday how I was moved to tears several times at this biennale, overwhelmed by the power and beauty of solidarity. I wouldn’t mind revisiting the show. In my opinion, fall is the ideal season to experience the biennale.
And after Venice, Aruba.
—Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief
National Pavilions We Loved at the Venice Biennale
Throughout our comprehensive coverage of the impactful 2026 Venice Biennale, which continues until November 22, we’ve shared insights on Koyo Kouoh’s posthumous main exhibition In Minor Keys, the forgettable United States pavilion by Alma Allen, and Gabrielle Goliath’s Elegy, relocated to a church after its cancellation by the South African pavilion. We also delved into Dayanita Singh’s project at the State Archives of Venice, the inconsistent collaboration between Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince, and an interview with Khaled Sabsabi, whose Australian pavilion faced censorship from pro-Israel groups before being reinstated, among other highlights from the international exhibition and its collateral events.
Despite our extensive reviews, we have yet to share our personal opinions on the national pavilions and which ones merit a visit or should be avoided. As summer’s intense heat waves subside, now may be the perfect opportunity to explore the biennale, if you haven’t already. Below is the first part of a dialogue between Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian and critic Aruna D’Souza discussing the pavilions they favored, those they did not, or those they remain undecided about. They start with a compelling case for national pavilions. Have they become staunch supporters of nation-states? Not quite, but hear them out. — Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief
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News
- An 11-year-old boy has achieved the Guinness Record for the World’s Youngest Curator by opening the Cambridge Natural History Museum in Illinois.
- Kristi Noem, once the Secretary of Homeland Security, celebrates the unveiling of a sculpture of herself and her horse, humorously named “Iceman,” in South Dakota.
- In a swift heist at the Museo Interdisciplinare Regionale in Sicily, thieves stole four significant paintings by Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina in under five minutes on Saturday night.
- The Speed Art Museum in Kentucky is set to return 24 Native American artifacts to tribes in Oklahoma.
- Severe heatwaves across France have damaged the beloved flowers in Monet’s gardens in Giverny. The vibrant blooms along the main alley have succumbed to the intense heat, sunshine, and drought.
- Angie Nixon, a Democratic Socialist and Florida state representative, has won the state’s Senate primary in a surprising victory.
- Taiwanese artists are accusing the Gwangju Biennale of political censorship after event organizers removed the country’s name from promotional materials.
- A new digital archive created by Writers Against the War on Gaza serves as a memorial for Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023.
- Art Movements: The Wolf Kahn Foundation is opening a new space in NYC, MoMA PS1 will introduce a new café, and which museum has acquired an early Rothko?
From Our Critics
Haroutiun Galentz’s True Colors
A new book examines how color functions as both a disguise and a reflection in psychological portraits by the modernist painter, who lost his parents during the Armenian Genocide. | Tamar Boyadjian
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Features
Interviews
Beer With a Painter: Rina Banerjee
“When you relinquish control to the paint, it becomes your collaborator, aiding in creating something beautiful,” remarked the Bengali-American artist at her studio in Dumbo. | Jennifer Samet
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Obituary
- A View From the Easel: Linda Lay establishes her studio in the mobile home where she was raised, bridging time and lovingly reclaiming the space through her vibrant art practice.
- In Memoriam: We honor Bou Meng, a key figure in genocide remembrance; Mary Heilmann, a trailblazing abstract artist; Kumantjayi (Walala) Tjapaltjarri, an Aboriginal Australian painter, and others.
