Marina Xenofontos to Represent Cyprus at 61st Venice Biennale with Animatronic Sparrow and Folk Songs

From 9 May to 22 November 2026, Marina Xenofontos will showcase her work at the 61st Venice Biennale. Her exhibition, titled 'It rests to the bones,' features 'Passer,' an animatronic female sparrow influenced by early European automata. In collaboration with Panagiotis Mina, she integrates songs recorded by her grandmother Amalia Strati and her sisters—Rebbecca Hadjipapa, Anthulla Fylachtou, and Chrystalla Pittaka—from Koilani, Cyprus. These songs, sung in Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot dialects, embody the humor and resilience of village life. The exhibition aligns with the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys,' and the Cyprus Pavilion is located at Associazione Culturale Spiazzi in Venice. Xenofontos highlights the intricate histories of Cyprus and the significance of art for contemplation.