Latvia Pavilion at 2026 Venice Biennale Explores Utopia Through Fashion Archives
Latvia's Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale will showcase "Untamed Assembly: Backstage of Utopia," created by the artistic team MAREUNROL’S. Opening on May 6, this innovative installation pays homage to the Untamed Fashion Assemblies (UFA), which were pivotal events in Riga from 1990 to 1999, initiated by designer Bruno Birmanis. The exhibition reinterprets UFA's legacy by presenting a backstage atmosphere where clothing racks embody both functional and artistic roles. Through digitized archival footage, the work explores themes of community, creativity, and the impact of political change, aiming to inspire reflections on future potential and connections.
Key facts
- The Pavilion of Latvia at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale presents 'Untamed Assembly: Backstage of Utopia'.
- The installation is by artist duo MAREUNROL’S.
- It is in dialogue with the archives of Untamed Fashion Assemblies (UFA), founded by Bruno Birmanis in Riga between 1990 and 1999.
- UFA expanded fashion across visual art, music, and club culture, defying Soviet-era norms.
- The exhibition is held in Venice, Italy, from May 6, 2026.
- Newly digitized footage from Birmanis' archive is included.
- The installation is conceived as a backstage, with clothing racks as holding devices.
- The pavilion asks what can be gathered from UFA's utopian visions.
Entities
Artists
- MAREUNROL’S
- Bruno Birmanis
Institutions
- Pavilion of Latvia
- Venice Art Biennale
- Untamed Fashion Assemblies (UFA)
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Riga