In this video we have a look at artist Haitham Al Busafi’s exhibition Zīnah (Adornment), the official representation of the Sultanate of Oman at the Venice Art Biennale 2026. Haitham Al Busafi: Zīnah (Adornment) / Pavilion of Oman at Venice Art Biennale 2026. Venice (Italy), May 6, 2026.

Official description:

Zīnah (Adornment) is an immersive, kinetic soundscape that explores the profound bond between the Omani people and their horses. Utilizing the traditional al-zaanah (horse jewellery) as its primary motif, the installation invites visitors to walk across a floor of Omani sand. This movement triggers a responsive ceiling constellation of upscaled silver pieces that chime in a “minor key” of delicate resonance.

By inverting the roles of the observer and the observed, the work allows the visitor to experience the dignity of being adorned. It shifts the focus from the jewellery as a decorative object to a “philosophy of relation”, a testament to the horse as a partner in pride rather than a means of labour. The installation serves as a polyphonous assembly, featuring silver elements etched by Omani community members, echoing the theme of collective care and the subtle, persistent power of cultural heritage.