upon the recommendation of president paolo baratta, the board of la biennale di venezia has appointed hashim sarkis as curator of the 17th international architecture exhibition to be held in 2020. sarkis is the principal architect of hashim sarkis studios (HSS), established in 1998 with offices in boston and beirut, and has been dean of the school of architecture and planning at the massachusetts institute of technology (MIT) since 2015. he was member of the international jury of biennale architettura 2016, and participated with his firm in the pavilion of the united states (biennale architettura 2014) and albania (biennale architettura 2010).

 

‘the world is putting new challenges in front of architecture,’ stated hashim sarkis, who earned a bachelor of architecture and a bachelor of fine arts from the rhode island school of design, and a master of architecture and a PhD in architecture from harvard university. ‘I look forward to working with participating architects from around the world to imagine together how we are going to rise to these challenges. thank you president baratta and la biennale di venezia team for providing architecture this important platform. I am both honored and humbled.’

 

‘we have appointed the curator of the next biennale architettura 2020, within the timeframe needed for organizing the exhibition and in respect of the norms which govern la biennale,’ said paolo baratta, president of la biennale di venezia. ‘with hashim sarkis, la biennale has provided itself with a curator who is particularly aware of the topics and criticalities which the various contrasting realities of today’s society pose for our living space.’ the board also confirmed that the event will be held from may 23 to november 29, 2020.

 

portrait of hashim sarkis by bryce vickmark