Syrian artist Sara Shamma will present a large-scale immersive installation titled 'The Tower Tomb of Palmyra' at the 61st edition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. This marks Syria's first participation in the Biennale since the fall of the Assad regime and the appointment of President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa. Shamma's project, inspired by the ancient funerary towers of Palmyra destroyed during the Syrian Civil War, aims to restore the heritage site to life through a multisensory journey combining architecture, painting, and other elements. It will be the first solo presentation by a single Syrian artist at the Biennale, departing from previous group exhibitions with European collaborators.
This project matters because it represents Syria's cultural redefinition on the international stage after over a decade of civil war. By focusing on Palmyra's history as a place where diverse religions and ethnicities coexisted peacefully, Shamma offers a hopeful narrative for Syria's transitionary period. The installation also highlights the broader issue of heritage destruction in conflict zones, connecting Syria's losses to those in Gaza and Lebanon. As the first solo Syrian pavilion at the Biennale, it signals a shift toward stronger national representation and cultural diplomacy for the country.