Monumental Installations Dominate Venice Biennale 2026 National Pavilions
The 61st Venice Biennale showcases large-scale installations from various national pavilions, marking India's return after a seven-year hiatus with three pieces displayed at the Arsenale. Sumakshi Singh's 'Permanent Address' (2026) features water-soluble thread to depict the ruins of her ancestral home. Ranjani Shettar presents 'Under the same sky' (2026), a suspended garden crafted from hand-woven cotton plants. From Canada, Abbas Akhavan introduces 'Entre chiens et loups' (2026), a greenhouse with a lily pond. Argentina's Matías Duville exhibits 'Minor Yin Yang' (2026), a charcoal-rendered salt desert. Brazil's Rosana Paulino revisits 'Tecelãs' (2003), while Italy's Chiara Camoni showcases ceramic sculptures. Montenegro's Siniša Radulovic unveils 'Out of the Blue, I’m Sept Away' (2026), and Kosovo features Brilant Milazimi's 'Hard Teeth (Dhëmbë të Fortë)' (2026). The UK highlights Lubaina Himid's paintings, and Austria's Florentina Holzinger presents 'Seaworld Venice'.
Key facts
- India returns to Venice Biennale after seven years with three monumental installations at the Arsenale.
- Sumakshi Singh's 'Permanent Address' uses water-soluble thread that dissolves after embroidery is complete.
- Ranjani Shettar's 'Under the same sky' is a suspended garden of hand-woven cotton on steel armature.
- Abbas Akhavan's 'Entre chiens et loups' transforms Canada's pavilion into a greenhouse with a lily pond.
- Matías Duville's 'Minor Yin Yang' features charcoal drawings on a salt desert floor.
- Rosana Paulino adapts 'Tecelãs' with hybrid terracotta figures at Brazil's pavilion.
- Chiara Camoni's ceramic sculptures at Italy's pavilion are made from clay gathered around her studio.
- Siniša Radulovic's installation includes a glass floor over a modular underground city.
- Kosovo's pavilion opens at the restored Chiesa di Santa Maria del Pianto with Brilant Milazimi's polyptych.
- Florentina Holzinger's performance at Austria's pavilion involves her naked body striking a bronze bell.
- Lubaina Himid's large figurative paintings are shown at the UK pavilion.
- The Biennale is the 61st edition, held in Venice in 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Sumakshi Singh
- Ranjani Shettar
- Abbas Akhavan
- Matías Duville
- Rosana Paulino
- Chiara Camoni
- Siniša Radulovic
- Brilant Milazimi
- Lubaina Himid
- Florentina Holzinger
- Gina Pane
Institutions
- Biennale di Venezia
- Arsenale
- Giardini
- Canada Pavilion
- India Pavilion
- Argentina Pavilion
- Brazil Pavilion
- Italy Pavilion
- Montenegro Pavilion
- Kosovo Pavilion
- United Kingdom Pavilion
- Austria Pavilion
- Chiesa di Santa Maria del Pianto
- San Lorenzo
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Arsenale
- Giardini
- New Delhi
- India
- Canada
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Montenegro
- Kosovo
- United Kingdom
- Austria
- Castello
- San Lorenzo
- Chiesa di Santa Maria del Pianto
- lagoon north