The 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia entitled “The Milk of Dreams” and curated by Cecilia Alemani, underlines the important questions and doubts of artists, especially in these last two years, concerning the human changing, what differentiates animals, plants, humans and non-humans, our responsibilities towards the planet.

In this frame the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, through the Supreme Council of Culture, has selected the team who will represent Egypt with the artwork titled “Eden-Like Garden preserved for the Chosen ones”. Weaam El Masry, Mohamed Shoukry and Ahmed El Shaer are prominent Egyptian artists, with a big portfolio of creative activities, who show a project based on artificial intelligence installation, in a dynamic and experimental way.

As Director of the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome, one hopes that the Egyptian Pavilion will soon become a permanent addition to the Venice Biennale and a form of soft power that strives to foster the exchange of views and ideas, promote knowledge of other cultures, and build bridges between communities. Ultimately, to promote a positive vision of cultural diversity, highlighting it as a source of innovation, dialogue and peace.

In this regard, I would like to express my highest gratitude and sincere appreciation to H.E. Prof. Ines Abdel-Dayem, Minister of Culture of Egypt, for the continuing support provided to this project and for all cultural exchange programs aiming to sustain cultural dialogue between Egypt and Italy.

I would also like to thank all my colleagues in the Ministry of Culture of Egypt who have made this project possible and finally, I would like to thank the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism and the highly professional staff of the Biennale, whose members work with great dedication on the realization and management of the Exhibition throughout its six-and-a-half month duration.

Hoping that Egyptian Pavilion will please our various target audiences, we wish you an intense experience of Egyptian beautiful visual arts celebration in the coming days.



Heba Youssef

Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome