Miet Warlop on Her Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Belgian director Miet Warlop, known for her theatrical works blending performance, music, and exhaustion rituals, is the first female director to curate the Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Her installation, titled "It never SSST" (Flemish for "shh" or "pst"), explores themes of ceaseless activity and collective exhaustion. The work features six performers, a sculptor who intermittently freezes action to create high-relief sculptures, an eight-hour radio show produced with musician Micha Volders, and numerous objects with words. Warlop aims to create a space for gathering and reflection on current crises, drawing parallels to endurance performances of the interwar period. She believes performance art can address contemporary anxieties more directly than static visual art. The Belgian Pavilion's selection reflects a shift towards recognizing performance as a vital medium for the present moment.