TURANDOT: To the Daughters of the East

The Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art presents “TURANDOT: To the Daughters of the East”, a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, “In Minor Keys”. The group exhibition features works by eleven significant female artists from Central Asia and the wider East, held at the ACP–Palazzo Franchetti. The project marks a new phase in the foundation’s international programming.

The exhibition includes new and iconic artworks spanning multiple genres, including video, installation, sculpture, painting, textiles, and sound. These works engage with human, societal, and global concerns, addressing themes such as existence, myth, and history.

The concept draws on the figure of Turandot, an enigmatic character in mythology, literature, and opera. While famously depicted in Giacomo Puccini’s opera, the story originated in Persian literature, specifically in the twelfth-century epic “Haft Paykar” (Seven Beauties) by Nezami Ganjavi. The name Turandokht in Farsi translates to “daughter of Turan”, referring to the historical region now known as Central Asia. The exhibition pays homage to women artists from these geographical areas, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran. Their collective works reflect personal and shared histories, honouring the voice of Turandot through contemporary creativity and conviction. The exhibition is accompanied by a publication and a programme of talks and performances.