ArtDayME: The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia invites visitors to “come and cry,” presenting Saudi-Palestinian artist Dana Awartani’s new installation, “May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones.” Curated by Antonia Carver with assistant curator Hafsa Alkhudairi, the work has quickly emerged as a crowd favorite since the biennale opened on May 9.

Rooted in the idea that “tears are never just tears, and stones are never neutral, especially when in ruins,” Awartani immerses audiences in an imagined archaeological site. Rather than replicating a single location, the installation reflects her research into mosaic traditions, techniques, and histories across different geographies and generations.

Drawing on 23 culturally significant sites with histories spanning three millennia, the installation highlights places now imperiled by human actions. Some of these sites have been inhabited continuously for centuries; others stand today as archaeological remains. All are recognized as threatened by bodies such as UNESCO and the ALIPH Foundation.

The work is composed of 29,221 hand-made clay earth bricks, produced with 32 master artisans in the mountains outside Riyadh and baked under the Saudi sun. Through its motifs, the installation reveals shared cultural legacies that predate and transcend contemporary borders.

The pavilion is open to the public from 9 May to 22 November 2026 at the Arsenale, Sale d’Armi in Venice.