This will be Malta’s first time participating in South Korea’s Biennale, one of Asia’s principal contemporary art events.
Malta’s Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, together with Arts Council Malta, have officially revealed Malta’s official participation in two main, international platforms for the arts – the 2026 Venice Biennale and Gwangju Biennale.
Participation in this event, established as one of Asia’s key contemporary arts events, will take place in South Korea, and will be a first for Malta. This announcement was made during an event held at the Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS).
During his speech at the event, Dr. Owen Bonnici, Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government said that Malta’s participation also reflects Maltese artists’ high standing and their growing presence on the global stage. Culture Minister Dr. Bonnici emphasised how Malta’s debut at the Gwangju Biennale marks an important step in expanding Malta’s cultural footprint beyond Europe and reaffirms the government’s commitment to weighting of local talent on an international level. Dr. Bonnici praised Arts Council Malta for its continued dedication towards fostering the artistic sector.
Arts Council Malta’s CEO, Dr Luke Dalli, stated that Malta’s participation in Venice’s Biennale, as well as its debut in Gwangju, reflect a strong commitment to supporting artistic excellence and strengthening Malta’s cultural presence on a global scale. Dr Dalli commented that such projects incorporate a sense of responsibility and ambition, while also bringing together artists, curators and producers whose work opens boundaries while creating new spaces for international dialogue.
Venice Biennale’s 61st edition will be titled In Minor Keys, and is curated by the late Koyo Kouoh. Kouoh, who selected this theme herself, explores the spaces found within ‘minor keys’ of music. She focuses on the poetic, sensorial and ethereal aspects to which the spaces are often linked.
The Malta Pavilion, titled No Need to Sparkle; Experiments in Love and Revolution, will be curated by Margerita Pulè and created by artists Adrian MM Abela, Charlie Cauchi and Raphael Vella. The Pavilion, open from 9th May to 22nd November 2026, will respond to present-day realities by embracing Aristotle’s idea of ‘wise doubt’ – a reminder that doubt can be an active and resistant force. The work transports audiences into layered fictions, shifting narratives and melting storylines, provoking deeper reflection on truth, perception and belief systems – themes that align with the wider cultural ambitions of our country.
The individuals involved in the selection process for the Malta Pavilion included Dr Katya Micallef (Head Curator of Modern and Contemporary Arts at MUŻA), Architect Adrian Mamo (Artistic Director at Manoel Theatre, and President of Malta Society of Arts), and Daniel Azzopardi (Artistic Director at Spazju Kreattiv). The process was moderated by Dr Romina Delia, Head of International Cultural Relations at Arts Council Malta.
“No Need to Sparkle” is built upon a wide range of historical and conceptual material, placing myths, stories and contemporary media side by side to explore how we understand reality. Each artist presents a screen-based and multimedia installation that leads visitors into an uncertain terrain where what appears real becomes illusion, and certainty dissolves into ambiguity. The Pavilion invites us to prioritise empathy and multiplicity over fixed belief, and acknowledges that multiple voices and perspectives can coexist,” Pulè said.
Malta’s debut at the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, to be held between September and December 2026, will take place through the project BEJN / IN-BETWEEN, presented under the Biennale’s theme You Must Change Your Life. Hosted at the Horanggasy Art Polygon Gallery, the artistic team comprises four leading contemporary artists: Norbert Francis Attard, Sam Alekksandra, Julien Vinet, and Michael Quinton. Toni Attard is the project director, while Infinita, led by Mark Anthony Sammut, will provide extended reality (XR) support.
“The project will map an ecosystem unfolding between Malta and Korea through immersive installations, transforming the Malta Pavilion into a living threshold. The Pavilion will therefore create a new ‘in-between’: a reimagined sacred space for an age of polarisation: not as a refuge from tension but as a crucible in which opposing energies generate their own light,” the artists explained.
Norbert Attard’s work in ArtPolygon uses elastic material to explore Maltese identity. PONKS’ Rope Temple in the GlassPolygon creates a poetic link between Korea and Malta through sacred verses and ropes. Quinton’s work in the BasePolygon offers sound interactions and transnational experiences which are further expanded through workshops and creative collaborations.
The individuals involved in the selection process for the Pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale included Dusu Choi (Head of Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Department), Sean Buhagiar (Artistic Director at Manoel Theatre) and Rupert Cefai (CEO of Fondazzjoni Kreattività). The process was once again moderated by Dr Romina Delia.
For more information, visit https://artscouncilmalta.gov.mt.
