Also Américo Rodrigues, general director of DGARTES, highlighted the importance of the Portuguese presence at the Venice Biennale. According to Rodrigues, the event is “one of the most important international contexts for the presentation of contemporary art” and “a privileged space for intercultural dialogue”, he stated.
Also according to the general director of DGARTES, national participation constitutes “a fundamental instrument for the development of international projection”, allowing “the circulation of artists, the strengthening of institutional networks and the visibility of contemporary creation produced from Portugal”.
Differences over the participation of Russia and Israel
Asked about the participation of countries involved in wars in the 2026 edition, Margarida Balseiro Lopes said that Portugal signed a joint European position in relation to Russia. “We signed a letter noting our dissatisfaction with Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale,” he said.
In the case of Israel, the minister indicated that there is no common position at the European levelu. “There is no position, at European level, as there is in relation to Russia”, he said, adding that the Portuguese Government favors “articulation with European partners” and “diplomatic means and dialogue”.
Also asked by journalists about the issue – which raised controversy in recent days – Alexandre Estrela expressed disagreement with the Government’s position, assuming a critical reading of the political context. “I don’t see myself, and the whole team doesn’t see themselves, in this support and silence for both the United States and Israeli governments,” he said. “We stand in solidarity with the oppressed people at this time,” he added.
In addition to the main installation, the project will be accompanied by a parallel program throughout the seven months of the exhibition, with conversations, concerts, screenings and other initiatives. “There will be a parallel program with other artists, with other works that will resonate with the work itself”, explained Alexandre Estrela.
The project also foresees synchronized extensions in other geographies, including Lisbon, functioning as an interconnected system that reacts to global seismic activity. In Portugal, a collaboration is planned with Galeria Zé dos Bois, in Bairro Alto, creating an “arm” of the project simultaneously with Venice.
nuno.tibirica@dn.pt
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