Fiona Pardington to Represent Aotearoa New Zealand at 2026 Venice Biennale

Fiona Pardington is going to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the upcoming 61st Venice Biennale, happening from May 9 to November 22, 2026. Her exhibit, named 'Taharaki Skyside,' will feature large-scale photographs of taxidermied native birds from Aotearoa and the Southern Ocean. Drawing inspiration from her Māori ancestry, she sees these birds as spiritual symbols and cultural treasures, aiming to reclaim them from colonial contexts. Influenced by Dante's Divine Comedy, she links the idea of Purgatory to the unique space of the Southern Hemisphere. Her work explores themes of marginalization, focusing on indigeneity and endangered species. The exhibit will be held at the Istituto Provinciale per l'Infanzia Santa Maria della Pietà di Venezia, while she also plans to research at the Museo del Vetro in Murano.