Bugarin + Castle to Represent Scotland at 2026 Venice Biennale with 'Shame Parade'
The 61st Venice Biennale, scheduled from 9 May to 22 November 2026, will feature the artistic duo Bugarin + Castle, who will represent Scotland. Their exhibition, 'Shame Parade,' curated by Mount Stuart Trust, will take place at Olivolo, Castello. This work investigates charivari, medieval rituals of public shaming that employed sound and costumes, including cross-dressing to ridicule offenders. Filipino artist Davide Bugarin highlights that 'charivari' is recognized in modern Philippine law as a punishable public disturbance. The exhibition blends sound, music, sculpture, print, and a musical score from Manila's Kalye Teresa, including a 5-channel video titled 'Submit to Sound' (2026). Castle stressed the importance of complexity in narratives, especially concerning trans rights. Bugarin remarked that the Biennale embraces unresolved themes, while Castle paid tribute to Scottish musician Sophie. The duo co-founded Pollyanna, a queer arts collective in Scotland.
Key facts
- Bugarin + Castle represent Scotland at the 61st Venice Biennale.
- Exhibition titled 'Shame Parade' curated by Mount Stuart Trust.
- Pavilion located at Olivolo, Castello.
- Biennale runs 9 May through 22 November 2026.
- Work inspired by charivari, medieval shaming rituals.
- Includes 5-channel video 'Submit to Sound' (2026).
- Musical score by Manila-based band Kalye Teresa.
- Artists are founding members of Pollyanna queer collective.
Entities
Artists
- Davide Bugarin
- Angel Cohn Castle
- Sophie
- Kalye Teresa
- Joseph Brodsky
- Bugarin + Castle
- Alberta Whittle
- Abbas Akhavan
- Linder
- Martin Boyce
- Thomas Abercromby
- Ilana Halperin
- Sepake Angiama
- Norah Campbell
- Simon Groom
- Emma Nicolson
- Lucia Pietroiusti
- Dr Morven Gregor
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Mount Stuart Trust
- Scotland + Venice
- Pollyanna
- Versace
- Venice Biennale
- Fruitmarket
- Tate Modern
- Art Fund
- The Warburg Institute
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- Worshipful Company of Architects
- Burberry
- BBC Scotland
- LUX Scotland
- Talbot Rice Gallery
- Royal Scottish Academy
- Stirling Castle
- KINDL Centre for Contemporary Art
- Newcastle University
- The University of Edinburgh
- Forma
- Iniva
- British Council
- National Galleries of Scotland
- Creative Scotland
- Hartwig Art Foundation
- ICA: Institute of Contemporary Art
- City Art Centre
- WHYNoT Space
- Microscope Gallery
- Krittinen Gallery
- Tromsø Centre for Contemporary Art
- Photographic Centre Peri
- Cypher
- Powerhouse Arts
- Kalye Teresa
- Kunstmuseum Bonn
- BALTIC
- Malta Biennale
- Venice Biennale of Architecture
- New Architecture Writers
- The Architectural Review
- The Architects’ Journal
- Biennial Foundation
- La Biennale di Venezia
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Scotland
- United Kingdom
- Philippines
- Glasgow
- Florence
- Olivolo
- Castello
- Fondamenta degli Incurabili
- Isle of Bute
- Manila
- Edinburgh
- UK
- Bute
- Malta
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Bonn
- USA
- Finland
- Norway
- Tromsø
- Greece
- Switzerland
- Olivolo Castello 59/C
Sources
- ArtReview —
- Espoarte —
- Biennial Foundation —
- Exibart —