Gulan at the 2013 Venice Biennale

1st June – 24th November 2013

Gulan collaborated with the Official Pavilion of Iraq, curated by Jonathan Watkins and organised by the Ruya Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Iraq. Gulan sponsored one of the Kurdish artists whose work was shown, Jamal Penjweny, to spend time in Venice after the opening of the Biennale in order to experience the Biennale and Venice more fully.

Jamal Penjweny is the young Kurdish photographer and film maker whose Iraq is Flying had a central place in Gulan’s first ‘Runaki Festival’ in 2009. With the assistance of Vittorio Urbani of Nuova Icona, the local commissioner for the Iraq Pavilion, Gulan will be supporting Jamal to stay on in Venice after the opening of the Pavilion so that he can experience and explore the city, see other Biennale exhibitions, attend events and meet other artists.

The Guardian: Venice Biennale: Iraq’s art world emerges from the ruins

The Guardian: Iraq’s isolated artists set for Venice Biennale showcase