Parasol Unit, the London non-profit exhibition space that closed in 2020 after 16 years, has relaunched with a new exhibition titled "Turandot: To the Daughters of the East" as an official collateral event of the Venice Biennale. Held at the historic Palazzo Franchetti, the show features 11 female artists from Central Asia and surrounding regions, curated by founder Ziba Ardalan. The exhibition spans video, installation, sculpture, painting, textile, and sound works by artists including Lida Abdul, Huma Bhabha, Mona Hatoum, and Tala Madani, and runs from 9 May to 31 October.
The revival of Parasol Unit matters because it brings a dedicated platform for underrepresented voices from Central Asia into the heart of the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art events. By operating without a fixed location, the foundation can now stage exhibitions wherever art dialogue is needed, as demonstrated by a parallel project in Athens celebrating the centenary of Swiss sculptor Heidi Bucher. The exhibition's focus on East-West connections and its inspiration from the Turandot narrative highlight the growing cultural force of the East in the global art world.