A Work by Firooz Farmanfarmaeian Titled "Gate of Turan" at the Venice Biennal 2022

The 50th edition of the Venice Biennale will be held on April 23-27, 2022 on the island of Giudecca. In addition to the First-Ever Kyrgyz Pavilion curated by Janet Rady and Firouz Farmanfarmaian, other pavilions will be on display at the event, including Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
Firouz Farmanfarmaian features his work entitled "Gate of Turan" in this pavilion. The title refers to the territory of Turan including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. In "Gates of Turan", he attempts to express, from a historical and social point of view, the connection between his tribal heritage with Turanian tribes and the epic poem "Manas" of Kyrgyzstan, which is known as the longest poem in the world with more than one million lines.
Farmanfarmaian has worked for eight months with the Altyn Kol Women Handicraft Cooperative, (Altyn Kol means golden hands), to express the connection between history, memory, and identity. Founded by women, this cooperative conserves the old handcrafting traditions of Kyrgyzstan, including Shirdaks and Ala-Kiiz, the colorful floor and wall coverings in the remote highlands of Naryn and Issyk-kul.

Through his work, the artist, who experienced nomadic lifestyles in northern Europe and Africa, aims to convey the importance of Kyrgyz handicrafts through the integration of past and future, East and West, nature and industry. The "Gate of Turan" features ten felt and hand-woven pieces from this cooperative, which reflect the ten nomadic tribes of Turan. A black background provides the setting for these works, which are brought to life with light, color, and sound.

Farmanfarmaian will participate in a press conference to be held by the Kyrgyz Embassy in London on March 4th.