Nilbar Güres « A Kiss on the Eyes » Turkey, Venice Biennale 2026

Nilbar Güres A couple perched on a branch attached to an arch curving like a vault above them.

These two figures are closely bound together by a piece of fabric tied around them; the taller one expresses their love by placing a tender kiss on the smaller one’s eyes.

Nilbar Güres’ sculptures, presented at the Turkish Pavilion at the Arsenale for the 2026 Art Biennale, convey a message of tolerance and respect for others.

The title of the exhibition, “A Kiss on the Eyes”, refers to a Turkish expression often used when parting, meaning: “My regards, take care.”

Nilbar Güres chose this title in an attempt to help people who often behave selfishly, who think first of their own well-being, to understand that it is possible to live in harmony with others by respecting them as much as they respect themselves.

Nilbar Güres