Maria Madeira to represent Timor-Leste's first national pavilion at 60th Venice Biennale

Maria Madeira will create Timor-Leste's inaugural national pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, running from 20 April to 24 November. Her site-specific installation, titled Kiss and Don't Tell, will be presented at Spazio Ravà, accompanied by performances during the opening. Madeira views this participation as monumental for Timor-Leste's contemporary arts discourse, providing visibility for East Timorese artists and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. She describes her artistic practice as merging traditional and contemporary elements to create a new visual language accessible to both local and international audiences. The artist cites influences from Jackson Pollock, Degas, and Picasso, and looks forward to engaging with other artists working with indigenous traditions in Venice. ArtReview conducted the interview as part of a series featuring artists and curators from various national pavilions.