The exhibition “Memory of Hope” by Kazakh artist Gulnur Mukazhanova is a captivating homage to the interconnected histories of East and West, running until February 10, 2025, as part of the Historical Archives of the Venice Biennale’s special project celebrating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death. This immersive installation invites visitors to trace the path of Polo’s ancestors, Niccolò and Matteo, who ventured through the vast steppes of Kazakhstan, shaping the spirit of exploration that would later define Marco Polo’s legendary journey.
Mukazhanova’s work elegantly fuses the ancient traditions of Central Asia with contemporary artistic expression. She uses wool, silk fibers, and antique fabrics to create delicate, expansive weavings that evoke both the material and spiritual landscapes of the Far East. The artist weaves together decorative motifs from disparate cultures, blending them into a single, harmonious whole that speaks to the unifying power of history and art.
Her installation is not merely an aesthetic experience, but a philosophical one—symbolizing the infinite cycles of movement and connection. The sinuous lines of the dragon-serpent, a powerful symbol in Asian culture representing the energies of the earth, flow through the space like a living current, redefining the Sala delle Colonne (Hall of Columns) into a holistic environment. Mukazhanova’s intricate weaving thus becomes a metaphor for the interwoven destinies of peoples, cultures, and the shared legacy of exploration that transcends time and geography.
Website: www.labiennale.org
Location: Ca’ Giustinian Palace, Venice
Schedule: until Feb. 10, 2025
