Haitham Al-Busafi will represent Oman at the 61st Venice Biennale, serving as both artist and curator. His installation, titled "Zinah," transforms the tradition of Omani silver horse adornment (Al-zaanah) into an immersive environment of sand, suspended metal, and collectively generated sound. Located in the Arsenale Artiglierie and commissioned by Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the work was developed through a community workshop in Muscat where participants inscribed marks into silver forms. The exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, 2025.
This marks Oman's continued participation in the world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibition, with a project that elevates traditional craft into fine art while emphasizing collective authorship and sensory experience. The installation aligns with the Biennale's curatorial theme "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh, which prioritizes resonance over spectacle. By centering a cultural practice that treats horses as equals rather than instruments, Al-Busafi's work offers a subtle but powerful commentary on recognition and mutual dignity, relevant to broader conversations about decolonization and cultural representation in global art.