Panama Pavilion at 2026 Venice Biennale Explores Canal Zone Histories

Representing Panama at the 61st Venice Biennale, which takes place from May 9 to November 22, 2026, are Antonio José Guzmán and Iva Jankovic (Messengers of the Sun). Their work, titled 'Tropical Hyperstition,' explores themes of forced displacement and segregation linked to the construction of the Panama Canal and the establishment of the Canal Zone, a U.S.-administered area. The installation includes a twenty-meter-long hammock made from handwoven indigo-dyed fabric, patchwork textiles featuring block-printed genetic and geometric designs, and archival images. Utilizing Ajrakh block printing techniques from Sindh (Pakistan) and Kutch (India), the artists emphasize natural materials over synthetic fibers. Located in the Arsenale, the Panama Pavilion aims to draw attention to the underrepresentation of Central America at the Biennale. Influences include Lord Cobra, Gerardo Maloney, Tropico de Cancer, and Olowaidi, with curators Ana Elizabeth González and Monica Kupfer overseeing the project, produced in partnership with the Sufiyan Khatri Atelier in Gujarat, India, and the Museo del Canal.