Italian Ambassador to the UAE, Paolo Dionisi, presented Dr. Lamees Hamdan with the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity for her work spearheading the first UAE National Pavilion at the 53rd International Art Exhibition – the 2009 Venice Biennale.
The order was officially bestowed on Dr. Lamees Hamdan as Knight of the Order by the President of the Republic of Italy, The Honorable Giorgio Napolitano by the signing of the Presidential decree in Rome, Italy. The order is granted to non-Italian citizens making a significant contribution to the country.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Paolo Dionisi, the Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates remarked: “It was my pleasure to present this award bestowed on Dr. Lamees Hamdan by the President of the Republic of Italy. The award is given in recognition of her dedication and desire to bring Emirati art and artistic talent to the most high profile non-commercial art exhibition in the world - the Venice Biennale.”
In 2009, the United Arab Emirates was the first Gulf country to participate in the Biennale. Initiated and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, the UAE National Pavilion proved to be a big success with over 375,000 visitors; the exhibition enriched the cultural offering at Venice showcasing a unique insight into the modern UAE art scene, artists and artistic practices.
A more detailed press release in English and Arabic has been attached to this email. For additional information, high-res images, or any media related enquiries please contact us on press@uaepavilion.org or phone 050 482 9926.
