Venice: The United Arab Emirates Pavilion has announced its upcoming exhibition, "Pressure Cooker," at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled to take place in Venice, Italy, from 10th May to 23rd November 2025. The exhibition will be curated by Emirati architect and scholar Azza Aboualam and will explore the evolving relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE, offering innovative solutions for sustainable food production.
According to Emirates News Agency, the exhibition adopts a research-based approach to examine themes of self-sufficiency and architectural solutions tailored for arid environments. It builds on archival research and fieldwork to assess existing food-growing infrastructures in the UAE, which are often situated in resource-rich areas that are generally obscured or overlooked.
The project will highlight local design solutions conceived under conditions of food scarcity, showcasing a range of approaches from vernacular practices to technologically advanced systems. The National Pavilion continues its collaboration with local institutions, including Zayed University and the Sharjah Art Foundation, to support the research endeavors of cultural practitioners and scholars within the UAE.
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, emphasized that the UAE's participation in the exhibition underscores the nation's commitment to fostering innovation to address critical global challenges. The exhibition aims to demonstrate how sustainable architectural design can contribute to climate resilience and improved resource management.
Azza Aboualam, the curator, remarked that the exhibition addresses the pressing issue of food security by examining the intersection of architecture, innovation, and sustainability. The curatorial approach aims to link the UAE's cultural and architectural identity with global challenges, providing insights into food systems and sustainability.
Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE - La Biennale di Venezia, stated that the pavilion is dedicated to sharing the UAE's untold stories on a global platform, connecting the country's rich cultural heritage with international discourse.