Ecuador's Venice Biennale Pavilion Challenges Western Categories with Tawna and Oscar Santillán

Ecuador presents its national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, featuring the collective Tawna and artist Oscar Santillán in a project titled 'Tawna & Oscar'. Curated by Manuela Moscoso and organized by the Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo (MAAC), the pavilion explores Amazonian culture beyond Western binary thinking, emphasizing decolonial perspectives and relational knowledge. The exhibition includes Tawna's videos 'LLAKI' and 'Kawashima', which address warmipangui (LGBTIQ+ Amazonian identities) and Sápara ceramic practices, while Santillán presents works like 'Voyager', 'Medulla', and 'Crisálida' that blend science, technology, and ancestral knowledge. The pavilion is located at Castelló Gallery, near the Grand Canal, and runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The project also includes 'Kanua: Listening Practices', a series of conversations on a solar-powered boat, with participants such as Carolina Caycedo, La Chola Poblete, and Chus Martínez. The curatorial approach avoids exoticism, presenting the Amazon as a complex field of thought, conflict, and future. The Biennale itself has been marked by the death of curator Koyo Kouoh, protests over Russia and Israel, and the resignation of the jury, leading to a flat edition where Ecuador's pavilion stands out for its potent discretion.