Curating Unity: A Multi-modal Reading of Archaic, the National Pavilion of Iraq at the 57th Venice Biennale

The paper investigates meaning communicated by the exhibition Archaic, national pavilion of Iraq at 57th Venice Biennale (2017). is only global art event that allows countries and nations to represent themselves on their own terms. In this sense, system pavilions traditionally regarded as an arena for soft power. applies multimodal analysis both macro-level (Halliday metafunctions) micro-level (investigation artworks potentials) understand image curated in exhibition. shows curators did not shy away from showing a negative with its outdated governmental existing ethno-religious divides. However, main narrative emphasized theme historical, cultural, geographical, human connections binding social diversity into inclusive unity.